Anxiety vs. Depression: Having One or Both Disorders

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEpisodesWhy They Co-OccurTreatmentCopingPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Episodes

Why They Co-Occur

Treatment

Coping

Prevention

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are mental health conditions that can affect your emotions, state of mind, and behavior. Many people refer to these conditions as “anxiety” and “depression.“Depression can make you feel sad, empty, hopeless, and sluggish. Anxiety, on the other hand, can make you feel excessive worry, fear, and restlessness. It’s possible to have both anxiety and depression; in fact, they frequently occur together.In this article, learn more about the characteristics of anxiety and depression and how to cope with one or both conditions.Galina Zhigalova / Getty ImagesAnxiety Attacks vs. Depression EpisodesSomeanxietyanddepressionsymptoms overlap, whereas others are different. Below is a comparison of the official symptoms of anxiety versus depression, according to theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5), which is the handbook that providers in the United States use to diagnose mental health conditions.General Anxiety Disorder SymptomsExcessive anxiety or worryBeing easily fatiguedSleep disturbanceDifficulty concentrating or mind going blankRestlessness or feeling on edgeIrritabilityMuscle tensionDifficulty controlling worryProblems in daily life stemming from anxietyMajor Depressive Disorder SymptomsDepressed moodFatigue or low energySleep disturbanceDifficulty concentrating or thinkingDecreased efficiencyLoss of interest in previously enjoyed activitiesChanges in appetiteWeight loss or gainPsychomotor changes (slower- or faster-than-usual movement)Feelings of worthlessness and guiltRecurrent thoughts of dyingSimilaritiesAs noted above, some shared symptoms of anxiety and depression include:Changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping too much or too littleChallenges with concentration and thinking. In anxiety, this may also manifest as your mind “going blank,” and in depression, you may struggle with decision-makingHaving low energy and being easily fatiguedBoth anxiety and depression can affect your moods, thoughts, how you see yourself, and how you interact with others and the world around you.There are similar changes in the brain that lead to anxiety and depression. Research shows that among people with anxiety and depression, there are shared brain changes in the areas that manage cognitive control, executive functioning, and emotional regulation.DifferencesThere are also differences between anxiety and depression. At its core, depression brings feelings of despair and sadness, whereas anxiety is associated with worry, fear, and dread that is disproportionate to the situation.While both conditions affect you physically, they do so in different ways. People with anxiety are more likely to be restless, tense, sweaty, have heart palpitations, or fidget. Those with depression are more likely to have slowed-down movement and speech, appetite changes, and weight loss or gain.Why Anxiety and Depression Occur TogetherYou can have anxiety and depression at the same time. Among people with depression, 45.7% also have an anxiety disorder at some point in their life.For people with anxiety disorders, between 20% and 70% will also have depression in their lifetime, with rates varying based on different types of anxiety disorder.The reasons for this co-occurrence are complex, but there are multiple theories about shared causes and risk factors, such as:Chronic disease and pain: People with chronic illness or chronic pain are also more prone to both anxiety and depression due to the effects of these conditions on their quality of life.Genetics:There is a high level of shared genetic risk factors between anxiety and depression, but there is a lot that scientists have yet to understand about this connection.The ongoing Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) study is the most extensive genetic study on this subject, with over 40,000 participants.Nongenetic risk factors: There are other characteristics that anxiety and depression have in common, which could explain the overlap between the two conditions. These includechildhood traumaor neglect, parenting style, and stressful events.Personality traits:Studies have identified the personality trait ofneuroticismas linked to a higher risk of both anxiety and depression.Can Anxiety Cause Depression?Older longitudinal research shows that having an anxiety disorder significantly increases your of developing secondary depression.The symptoms of anxiety can be very limiting. You may constantly feel worried and afraid, leading you to avoid socializing or feeling restricted in where you can go and what you can do. Over time, this can lead to feelings of depression.Anxiety affects the brain in ways that can contribute to depression. In people with anxiety disorders, theamygdala(the brain structure involved in the fight-or-flight response) processes become exaggerated, leading to a greater perception of danger and difficulty regulating other parts of the brain, like theprefrontal cortexandhippocampus.These changes can lead to depression.Some studies have found an enlarged amygdala in people who have both anxiety and depression.Do You Need a Diagnosis Before Treatment?You don’t need an official anxiety or depression diagnosis to make lifestyle changes to help you feel better. However, effective treatment for these conditions often includes medications and therapy, which are typically only accessible with a diagnosis.That’s why it’s in your best interest to seek professional help for a proper diagnosis if your symptoms impact your daily life.For AnxietyThere are several different anxiety disorders, such asgeneralized anxiety disorder,obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD), andsocial anxiety. Treatment can vary among conditions, which is one reason getting an official diagnosis is essential.If symptoms like worry, fear, difficulty concentrating, feeling on edge, and more affect your daily life, then it’s time to seek professional help.For DepressionSimilar to anxiety, there are different types of depressive disorder. These includemajor depressive disorder,seasonal affective disorder(SAD),perinatal depression, andbipolar disorder.Treatment is different for each condition. For example, someone with SAD would greatly benefit from a light box, whereas overexposure to this type of therapy may trigger someone with bipolar disorder.That is why a diagnosis is needed to get the most effective treatment.What to Do About Treatment-Resistant Depression and ManagementHow to Cope Through Anxiety vs. DepressionWhether you have anxiety, depression, or both, it can be challenging to cope in day-to-day life. You may feel that your symptoms are controlling you and making it difficult to do the things you need to do, such as going to work or school, socializing with friends, or even engaging in hobbies that you used to enjoy.Healthcare providers often treat anxiety and depression with a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Because everyone is unique, treatment should reflect each individual’s symptoms, values, and preferences.Anxiety and Depression Overlap: Link Between Comorbid DisordersAn Integrated Approach to TreatmentIf you have both anxiety and depression, your healthcare providers will create an integrated approach to treatment since many of the treatments for these two conditions overlap.For example,antidepressantmedication is also effective at treating anxiety.Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is a highly effective form of talk therapy shown to improve symptoms of both anxiety and depression.Various lifestyle changes benefit people with both depression and anxiety. Examples include exercise, mindfulness, sticking to a routine, and sleep hygiene.Reminders to Offset Anxiety vs. DepressionDo notblame yourselfif you have anxiety or depression. There are ways to help manage your mental health, particularly if you know that you are prone to anxiety or depression.These strategies include:Eat a healthy, balanced diet.Get 2.5 to 5 hours of exercise per week or 30 minutes daily.Keep up with regular healthcare appointments.Learn your triggers.Limit your intake of alcohol, caffeine, smoking, or drugs.Practice mindfulness.Practice sleep hygiene, including sticking to a sleep schedule.Take any medication as prescribed.While these strategies won’t completely cure or prevent anxiety and depression, they can help you limit symptoms, identify anxious or depressive episodes, and seek the care you need.Techniques to Reduce Stress and AnxietySummaryAnxiety and depression are two separate disorders that often occur together due to shared risk factors, heritability, and overlapping brain changes associated with each condition. In simple terms, people who are depressed experience sadness, hopelessness, and despair, whereas people who are anxious experience excessive worry and fear. Treatment is available for both conditions.

Depression can make you feel sad, empty, hopeless, and sluggish. Anxiety, on the other hand, can make you feel excessive worry, fear, and restlessness. It’s possible to have both anxiety and depression; in fact, they frequently occur together.

In this article, learn more about the characteristics of anxiety and depression and how to cope with one or both conditions.

Galina Zhigalova / Getty Images

Upset teenage girl looking away and sitting in room at home

Anxiety Attacks vs. Depression Episodes

Someanxietyanddepressionsymptoms overlap, whereas others are different. Below is a comparison of the official symptoms of anxiety versus depression, according to theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5), which is the handbook that providers in the United States use to diagnose mental health conditions.

General Anxiety Disorder SymptomsExcessive anxiety or worryBeing easily fatiguedSleep disturbanceDifficulty concentrating or mind going blankRestlessness or feeling on edgeIrritabilityMuscle tensionDifficulty controlling worryProblems in daily life stemming from anxietyMajor Depressive Disorder SymptomsDepressed moodFatigue or low energySleep disturbanceDifficulty concentrating or thinkingDecreased efficiencyLoss of interest in previously enjoyed activitiesChanges in appetiteWeight loss or gainPsychomotor changes (slower- or faster-than-usual movement)Feelings of worthlessness and guiltRecurrent thoughts of dying

Excessive anxiety or worry

Being easily fatigued

Sleep disturbance

Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank

Restlessness or feeling on edge

Irritability

Muscle tension

Difficulty controlling worry

Problems in daily life stemming from anxiety

Major Depressive Disorder SymptomsDepressed moodFatigue or low energySleep disturbanceDifficulty concentrating or thinkingDecreased efficiencyLoss of interest in previously enjoyed activitiesChanges in appetiteWeight loss or gainPsychomotor changes (slower- or faster-than-usual movement)Feelings of worthlessness and guiltRecurrent thoughts of dying

Depressed mood

Fatigue or low energy

Difficulty concentrating or thinking

Decreased efficiency

Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities

Changes in appetite

Weight loss or gain

Psychomotor changes (slower- or faster-than-usual movement)

Feelings of worthlessness and guilt

Recurrent thoughts of dying

Similarities

As noted above, some shared symptoms of anxiety and depression include:

Both anxiety and depression can affect your moods, thoughts, how you see yourself, and how you interact with others and the world around you.

There are similar changes in the brain that lead to anxiety and depression. Research shows that among people with anxiety and depression, there are shared brain changes in the areas that manage cognitive control, executive functioning, and emotional regulation.

Differences

There are also differences between anxiety and depression. At its core, depression brings feelings of despair and sadness, whereas anxiety is associated with worry, fear, and dread that is disproportionate to the situation.

While both conditions affect you physically, they do so in different ways. People with anxiety are more likely to be restless, tense, sweaty, have heart palpitations, or fidget. Those with depression are more likely to have slowed-down movement and speech, appetite changes, and weight loss or gain.

Why Anxiety and Depression Occur Together

You can have anxiety and depression at the same time. Among people with depression, 45.7% also have an anxiety disorder at some point in their life.For people with anxiety disorders, between 20% and 70% will also have depression in their lifetime, with rates varying based on different types of anxiety disorder.

The reasons for this co-occurrence are complex, but there are multiple theories about shared causes and risk factors, such as:

Can Anxiety Cause Depression?

Older longitudinal research shows that having an anxiety disorder significantly increases your of developing secondary depression.

The symptoms of anxiety can be very limiting. You may constantly feel worried and afraid, leading you to avoid socializing or feeling restricted in where you can go and what you can do. Over time, this can lead to feelings of depression.

Anxiety affects the brain in ways that can contribute to depression. In people with anxiety disorders, theamygdala(the brain structure involved in the fight-or-flight response) processes become exaggerated, leading to a greater perception of danger and difficulty regulating other parts of the brain, like theprefrontal cortexandhippocampus.

These changes can lead to depression.Some studies have found an enlarged amygdala in people who have both anxiety and depression.

Do You Need a Diagnosis Before Treatment?

You don’t need an official anxiety or depression diagnosis to make lifestyle changes to help you feel better. However, effective treatment for these conditions often includes medications and therapy, which are typically only accessible with a diagnosis.

That’s why it’s in your best interest to seek professional help for a proper diagnosis if your symptoms impact your daily life.

For Anxiety

There are several different anxiety disorders, such asgeneralized anxiety disorder,obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD), andsocial anxiety. Treatment can vary among conditions, which is one reason getting an official diagnosis is essential.

If symptoms like worry, fear, difficulty concentrating, feeling on edge, and more affect your daily life, then it’s time to seek professional help.

For Depression

Similar to anxiety, there are different types of depressive disorder. These includemajor depressive disorder,seasonal affective disorder(SAD),perinatal depression, andbipolar disorder.

Treatment is different for each condition. For example, someone with SAD would greatly benefit from a light box, whereas overexposure to this type of therapy may trigger someone with bipolar disorder.That is why a diagnosis is needed to get the most effective treatment.

What to Do About Treatment-Resistant Depression and Management

How to Cope Through Anxiety vs. Depression

Whether you have anxiety, depression, or both, it can be challenging to cope in day-to-day life. You may feel that your symptoms are controlling you and making it difficult to do the things you need to do, such as going to work or school, socializing with friends, or even engaging in hobbies that you used to enjoy.

Healthcare providers often treat anxiety and depression with a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Because everyone is unique, treatment should reflect each individual’s symptoms, values, and preferences.

Anxiety and Depression Overlap: Link Between Comorbid Disorders

An Integrated Approach to TreatmentIf you have both anxiety and depression, your healthcare providers will create an integrated approach to treatment since many of the treatments for these two conditions overlap.For example,antidepressantmedication is also effective at treating anxiety.Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is a highly effective form of talk therapy shown to improve symptoms of both anxiety and depression.Various lifestyle changes benefit people with both depression and anxiety. Examples include exercise, mindfulness, sticking to a routine, and sleep hygiene.

An Integrated Approach to Treatment

If you have both anxiety and depression, your healthcare providers will create an integrated approach to treatment since many of the treatments for these two conditions overlap.For example,antidepressantmedication is also effective at treating anxiety.Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is a highly effective form of talk therapy shown to improve symptoms of both anxiety and depression.Various lifestyle changes benefit people with both depression and anxiety. Examples include exercise, mindfulness, sticking to a routine, and sleep hygiene.

If you have both anxiety and depression, your healthcare providers will create an integrated approach to treatment since many of the treatments for these two conditions overlap.

For example,antidepressantmedication is also effective at treating anxiety.Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is a highly effective form of talk therapy shown to improve symptoms of both anxiety and depression.Various lifestyle changes benefit people with both depression and anxiety. Examples include exercise, mindfulness, sticking to a routine, and sleep hygiene.

Reminders to Offset Anxiety vs. Depression

Do notblame yourselfif you have anxiety or depression. There are ways to help manage your mental health, particularly if you know that you are prone to anxiety or depression.

These strategies include:

While these strategies won’t completely cure or prevent anxiety and depression, they can help you limit symptoms, identify anxious or depressive episodes, and seek the care you need.

Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Summary

Anxiety and depression are two separate disorders that often occur together due to shared risk factors, heritability, and overlapping brain changes associated with each condition. In simple terms, people who are depressed experience sadness, hopelessness, and despair, whereas people who are anxious experience excessive worry and fear. Treatment is available for both conditions.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kalin NH.The critical relationship between anxiety and depression.AJP. 2020;177(5):365-367. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20030305American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Hwang Y, Oh J.Relationship between depression, anxiety, stress, and health-related quality of life in adults with and without chronic diseases: A cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(2):e36967. doi: 10.1097%2FMD.0000000000036967Davies MR, Kalsi G, Armour C, et al.The Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (Glad) Study: Online recruitment into the largest recontactable study of depression and anxiety.Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2019;123:103503. doi: 10.1016%2Fj.brat.2019.103503Zinbarg RE, Mineka S, Bobova L, et al.Testing a hierarchical model of neuroticism and its cognitive facets: latent structure and prospective prediction of first onsets of anxiety and unipolar mood disorders during 3 years in late adolescence.Clinical Psychological Science. 2016;4(5):805-824. doi:10.1177/2167702615618162Yang T, Guo Z, Zhu X, Liu X, Guo Y.The interplay of personality traits, anxiety, and depression in Chinese college students: a network analysis.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1204285. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpubh.2023.1204285Wittchen HU, Kessler RC, Pfister H, Lieb M.Why do people with anxiety disorders become depressed? A prospective-longitudinal community study.Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 2000;(406):14-23. PMID: 11131466Mah L, Szabuniewicz C, Fiocco AJ.Can anxiety damage the brain?Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016;29(1):56-63. doi:10.1097/yco.0000000000000223Espinoza Oyarce DA, Shaw ME, Alateeq K, Cherbuin N.Volumetric brain differences in clinical depression in association with anxiety: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. 2020;45(6):406-429. doi: 10.1503/jpn.190156Sit DK, Terman M, Wisner KL.Light therapy and risk of hypomania, mania, or mixed state emergence: response to benedetti et al.AJP. 2018;175(9):906-906. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18020231rNational Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications. December 2023.Coffey SF, Banducci AN, Vinci C.Common questions about cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric disorders.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(9):807-812. PMID: 26554473.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Tips and strategies to manage anxiety and stress.December 4, 2023.

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kalin NH.The critical relationship between anxiety and depression.AJP. 2020;177(5):365-367. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20030305American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Hwang Y, Oh J.Relationship between depression, anxiety, stress, and health-related quality of life in adults with and without chronic diseases: A cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(2):e36967. doi: 10.1097%2FMD.0000000000036967Davies MR, Kalsi G, Armour C, et al.The Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (Glad) Study: Online recruitment into the largest recontactable study of depression and anxiety.Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2019;123:103503. doi: 10.1016%2Fj.brat.2019.103503Zinbarg RE, Mineka S, Bobova L, et al.Testing a hierarchical model of neuroticism and its cognitive facets: latent structure and prospective prediction of first onsets of anxiety and unipolar mood disorders during 3 years in late adolescence.Clinical Psychological Science. 2016;4(5):805-824. doi:10.1177/2167702615618162Yang T, Guo Z, Zhu X, Liu X, Guo Y.The interplay of personality traits, anxiety, and depression in Chinese college students: a network analysis.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1204285. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpubh.2023.1204285Wittchen HU, Kessler RC, Pfister H, Lieb M.Why do people with anxiety disorders become depressed? A prospective-longitudinal community study.Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 2000;(406):14-23. PMID: 11131466Mah L, Szabuniewicz C, Fiocco AJ.Can anxiety damage the brain?Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016;29(1):56-63. doi:10.1097/yco.0000000000000223Espinoza Oyarce DA, Shaw ME, Alateeq K, Cherbuin N.Volumetric brain differences in clinical depression in association with anxiety: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. 2020;45(6):406-429. doi: 10.1503/jpn.190156Sit DK, Terman M, Wisner KL.Light therapy and risk of hypomania, mania, or mixed state emergence: response to benedetti et al.AJP. 2018;175(9):906-906. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18020231rNational Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications. December 2023.Coffey SF, Banducci AN, Vinci C.Common questions about cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric disorders.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(9):807-812. PMID: 26554473.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Tips and strategies to manage anxiety and stress.December 4, 2023.

Kalin NH.The critical relationship between anxiety and depression.AJP. 2020;177(5):365-367. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20030305American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Hwang Y, Oh J.Relationship between depression, anxiety, stress, and health-related quality of life in adults with and without chronic diseases: A cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(2):e36967. doi: 10.1097%2FMD.0000000000036967Davies MR, Kalsi G, Armour C, et al.The Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (Glad) Study: Online recruitment into the largest recontactable study of depression and anxiety.Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2019;123:103503. doi: 10.1016%2Fj.brat.2019.103503Zinbarg RE, Mineka S, Bobova L, et al.Testing a hierarchical model of neuroticism and its cognitive facets: latent structure and prospective prediction of first onsets of anxiety and unipolar mood disorders during 3 years in late adolescence.Clinical Psychological Science. 2016;4(5):805-824. doi:10.1177/2167702615618162Yang T, Guo Z, Zhu X, Liu X, Guo Y.The interplay of personality traits, anxiety, and depression in Chinese college students: a network analysis.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1204285. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpubh.2023.1204285Wittchen HU, Kessler RC, Pfister H, Lieb M.Why do people with anxiety disorders become depressed? A prospective-longitudinal community study.Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 2000;(406):14-23. PMID: 11131466Mah L, Szabuniewicz C, Fiocco AJ.Can anxiety damage the brain?Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016;29(1):56-63. doi:10.1097/yco.0000000000000223Espinoza Oyarce DA, Shaw ME, Alateeq K, Cherbuin N.Volumetric brain differences in clinical depression in association with anxiety: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. 2020;45(6):406-429. doi: 10.1503/jpn.190156Sit DK, Terman M, Wisner KL.Light therapy and risk of hypomania, mania, or mixed state emergence: response to benedetti et al.AJP. 2018;175(9):906-906. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18020231rNational Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications. December 2023.Coffey SF, Banducci AN, Vinci C.Common questions about cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric disorders.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(9):807-812. PMID: 26554473.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Tips and strategies to manage anxiety and stress.December 4, 2023.

Kalin NH.The critical relationship between anxiety and depression.AJP. 2020;177(5):365-367. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20030305

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Hwang Y, Oh J.Relationship between depression, anxiety, stress, and health-related quality of life in adults with and without chronic diseases: A cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(2):e36967. doi: 10.1097%2FMD.0000000000036967

Davies MR, Kalsi G, Armour C, et al.The Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (Glad) Study: Online recruitment into the largest recontactable study of depression and anxiety.Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2019;123:103503. doi: 10.1016%2Fj.brat.2019.103503

Zinbarg RE, Mineka S, Bobova L, et al.Testing a hierarchical model of neuroticism and its cognitive facets: latent structure and prospective prediction of first onsets of anxiety and unipolar mood disorders during 3 years in late adolescence.Clinical Psychological Science. 2016;4(5):805-824. doi:10.1177/2167702615618162

Yang T, Guo Z, Zhu X, Liu X, Guo Y.The interplay of personality traits, anxiety, and depression in Chinese college students: a network analysis.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1204285. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpubh.2023.1204285

Wittchen HU, Kessler RC, Pfister H, Lieb M.Why do people with anxiety disorders become depressed? A prospective-longitudinal community study.Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 2000;(406):14-23. PMID: 11131466

Mah L, Szabuniewicz C, Fiocco AJ.Can anxiety damage the brain?Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016;29(1):56-63. doi:10.1097/yco.0000000000000223

Espinoza Oyarce DA, Shaw ME, Alateeq K, Cherbuin N.Volumetric brain differences in clinical depression in association with anxiety: a systematic review with meta-analysis.Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. 2020;45(6):406-429. doi: 10.1503/jpn.190156

Sit DK, Terman M, Wisner KL.Light therapy and risk of hypomania, mania, or mixed state emergence: response to benedetti et al.AJP. 2018;175(9):906-906. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18020231r

National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications. December 2023.

Coffey SF, Banducci AN, Vinci C.Common questions about cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric disorders.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(9):807-812. PMID: 26554473.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Tips and strategies to manage anxiety and stress.December 4, 2023.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?

Anxiety Attacks vs. Depression Episodes#

Similarities#

Differences#

Why Anxiety and Depression Occur Together#

Can Anxiety Cause Depression?#

Do You Need a Diagnosis Before Treatment?#

For Anxiety#

For Depression#

How to Cope Through Anxiety vs. Depression#

An Integrated Approach to Treatment#

Reminders to Offset Anxiety vs. Depression#

Summary#