Prevalence of Comorbid Anxiety-Anxiety Disorders and the Effect of Comorbidity on Anxiolytic Treatment

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are frequently comorbid with other anxiety disorders. This study examines the prevalence of anxiety-anxiety comorbidity in an outpatient sample and whether comorbidity affected the prescription of anxiolytic medications. This is a retrospective study of 1,930 patients with anxiety diagnoses in an academic setting. Univariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between single anxiety disorders, anxiety-anxiety comorbidity, and anxiolytic use. In this study, 22.3% of patients had two or more anxiety disorders. Comorbidity was present in more than one-half of patients with panic disorder, specific phobia, and social anxiety disorder, and in less than one-half of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), or anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. Age, panic disorder, GAD, social anxiety disorder, OCD, PTSD, and specific phobia increased the odds of having comorbidity. Comorbidity was associated with increased likelihood of receiving benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, hydroxyzine, and buspirone. Providers should be mindful to screen for comorbidity as a potential factor that could affect treatment. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2021;51(7):342–349.]