Comorbidity isn’t a common word, but the circumstance it describes occurs with surprising frequency. Knowing what is a comorbidity and if you are at risk can be important for maintaining your mental health.
What Is Comorbidity?
Comorbidity is a clinical term for a co-occurring disorder. If someone has two or more physical or mental health conditions, one will typically be identified as the primary condition and the others may be described as either comorbid conditions or simply comorbidities.
What’s the Difference Between a Comorbidity and a Complication?
In addition to knowing what is comorbidity, it can be equally important to understand the difference between comorbidities and other concerns, such as complications.
- A comorbidity is a separate, distinct disorder that is not directly caused by the primary disorder. If a person with an anxiety disorder develops a depressive disorder, the anxiety would be the primary condition and the depression would be the comorbidity.
- A complication is a physical or mental health problem that is caused by a condition, or by the treatment for that condition. If a person with coronary heart disease develops an infection during heart bypass surgery, the infection would be a complication, not a comorbidity
What Are Common Comorbidities?
From a medical perspective, the Agency for Healthcare and Quality Research (AHQR) reported that the five most common comorbidities among people who were hospitalized for other reasons are:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Diabetes
- Chronic respiratory (lung) disease
- Deficiency anemias
- Obesity
Among people who have mental health conditions, the most common comorbidities include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Substance use disorders (addictions)
Though the comorbidities listed above are separated into medical and mental health concerns, people can have a primary medical condition and a comorbid mental health disorder, or vice versa.
In fact, a 2020 study in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry found that 74.9% of Medicaid patients who received inpatient psychiatric treatment had at least one medical comorbidity.
What Are the Causes Of Comorbidity?
Comorbidities can occur for many reasons. In some cases, risk factors for one condition may be similar to those of another. In other instances, the symptoms a person experiences and the behaviors they exhibit due to one mental illness may increase the likelihood that they will develop another disorder.
For example:
- Abuse, assault, neglect and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can put a person at risk of developing several conditions, including PTSD, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, dissociative identity disorder (DID), anxiety, and depression.
- People who have major depressive disorder are much more likely to develop generalized anxiety disorder than are members of the general public. This association works in the other direction, too, as having GAD significantly increases a person’s risk of developing MDD.
- Someone who has been living with untreated anxiety or depression may turn to alcohol or another drug in an attempt to self-medicate their symptoms, which can lead to a substance use disorder.
Who’s at Risk For Comorbidity?
Anyone who develops one mental health condition may have an increased likelihood of developing another. Other risk factors include:
- Developing a primary mental health concern prior to age 20
- Abusing alcohol and other substances
- Having certain medical conditions, such as chronic pain
- Developing a medical or mental health condition after age 60
How Do Comorbidities Affect My Health?
Two ways that comorbidities can affect your health are by exacerbating your primary disorder or by adding new symptoms to the ones you have already been experiencing:
- If you have been living with a chronic medical condition such as diabetes that you have been managing with medication and lifestyle changes, and you develop depression, your depressive symptoms could cause you to stop taking your meds and neglect your healthy diet plan. These behaviors can lead to worsening symptoms of diabetes – which, in turn, could push you deeper into depression.
- If you have an anxiety disorder, and you begin to use alcohol or other drugs as a coping mechanism, that choice could cause you to become addicted. Now, in addition to dealing with the symptoms of anxiety, your life can be further disrupted by the compulsions and maladaptive behaviors that are characteristic of addiction. Also, your continued substance abuse could cause you to experience a range of medical problems.
What Are Examples Of Comorbidities?
Comorbidities can occur in virtually any combination, but some disorders are more likely to co-occur along with certain other conditions. Here are some of the most frequently occurring comorbidities for five common mental and behavioral health concerns:
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are often accompanied by:
- ADHD
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
- Depressive disorders
- Eating disorders
Depression
Among people with major depressive disorder, common comorbidities include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Psychotic disorders
- Alcohol use disorder (alcoholism)
The simultaneous presence of an anxiety disorder and a depressive disorder is perhaps the most common of all mental health comorbidities. Studies indicate that:
- 45%-67% of people with depression have a comorbid anxiety disorder.
- 30%-63% of people with an anxiety disorder also meet the criteria for a diagnosis of depression.
Bipolar Disorder
For those who have bipolar disorder, frequently occurring comorbidities include:
- Anxiety disorders
- ADHD
- Eating disorders
- Addictions
- Psychosis
PTSD
Experts estimate that as many as 90% of people with posttraumatic stress disorder will develop at least one comorbid mental health concern over the course of their lifetime. Common comorbidities for PTSD include:
- Major depressive disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Alcohol use disorder
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Antisocial personality disorder (APD)
Substance Use Disorders
Comorbid mental health disorders are quite common among people who become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. Many people who struggle with addiction also have:
- ADHD
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Psychosis
Tips to Manage Comorbidities
The effects of comorbidities, and the best ways to manage them, can be influenced by a range of factors, including what conditions you have developed and how severe your symptoms have become. But it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that you can take certain steps to minimize the impact and maintain the best possible quality of life.
Depending on your unique circumstances, ideal options may include:
- Practicing self-care: Following a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and getting an appropriate amount of sleep can be extremely beneficial for your physical health and your psychological well-being.
- Developing a personal support network: Having a small group of close friends and/or trusted family members can be a source of both inspiration and motivation, making the good days even better and serving as a beacon of hope during darker moments.
- Building healthy coping skills: Strong stress-management and problem-solving capabilities can prevent relatively minor concerns from becoming major problems. Activities such as meditation and journaling can also help you to acknowledge your feelings without judging yourself harshly or reacting reflexively.
- Seeking professional help: Therapy can be a vital element of a successful effort to manage comorbidities. Your choices in this area range from outpatient therapy to partial hospitalization and residential care. What’s most important is finding a provider who can provide customized support to meet your specific needs.
Contact Renewal Health Group to Start Treatment
Renewal Health Group provides a full continuum of personalized mental health programming at three locations in Southern California. To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
Published: 5/16/2025
