Comorbidity Basics
Define comorbidity
The presence of two or more independent disorders in the same person.
After making a diagnosis, what key question should clinicians ask?
"What is left unexplained?"
What can make it difficult to identify comorbidity?
Different disorders often share symptoms.
Which two common categories of disorders most commonly occur together?
Mood disorders and anxiety disorders.
True or False: Two disorders must begin at the same time to be considered comorbid.
False
A diagnosis explains every symptom the patient reports. Should another diagnosis automatically be added?
No
What behavior can temporarily mimic anxiety, depression, or other mental health symptoms?
Substance use.
Substance use disorders frequently occur alongside which major mental health conditions?
Depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia.
A clinician notices symptoms that are not fully explained by a patient's current diagnosis. What should they consider?
The possibility of an additional diagnosis
A person is depressed, but also drinks heavily despite serious consequences. What should a clinician ask?
Whether the alcohol use represents a separate problem.
Why should clinicians be cautious when diagnosing personality disorders during acute mental illness?
Acute symptoms can look like personality traits.
A person with schizophrenia is at increased risk for what common comorbid condition?
Substance use disorder.
Why is it important that disorders be independent to qualify as true comorbidity?
Because one disorder should not simply be a symptom or consequence of the other.
What is the biggest danger of underdiagnosing comorbidity?
Missing important treatment needs.
What often happens to apparent personality disorder symptoms after severe mental illness improves?
They may disappear or become less noticeable.
What does a consistent pattern of disorders occurring together suggest to some researchers?
They may share an underlying psychopathology or common cause.
According to the chapter, what percentage of people with at least one mental disorder also have at least one additional disorder?
More than half.
A patient has sleep problems along with depression. Should insomnia automatically receive its own diagnosis?
No, not unless it is severe enough to require separate evaluation or treatment.
According to the chapter's diagnostic principle, when is the best time to evaluate for personality disorders?
After symptoms of major mental illness have been reduced or stabilized.
Borderline Personality Disorder is frequently comorbid with which three major categories of disorders?
Depressive disorders, PTSD/trauma-related disorders, and substance use disorders.