Anxious depression is a condition where anxiety and depression symptoms co-exist. As a result, many cases of anxious depression can be severe, according to a 1998 article in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry." Treatment is also a problem, as it must accommodate both aspects of the disorder.
Causes
A July 1, 2002, article for "Psychology Today" notes two theories on the cause of anxious depression: The patient has a particular temperament during childhood, or the patient has abnormally high levels of hormones, which impacts her stress responses.
Prevalence
Forty percent of patients with major depressive disorder have anxious depression, according to "Psychology Today," with 20.6 as the average age of onset.
Symptoms
Symptoms of anxious depression include restlessness, feelings of worthlessness and agitation, decreased appetite, excessive worry and guilt, and poor sleep where the patient wakes up frequently during the night, according to "Psychology Today."
Types of Anxiety
"Psychology Today" states that anxious depression patients who have social phobias or generalized anxiety disorder develop the anxiety disorder before the major depressive disorder. Patients who have panic disorders, however, develop the anxiety disorder after the major depressive disorder.
Treatment
Finding the right medications to treat anxious depression is difficult, though "Psychology Today" notes that an antidepressant and a tranquilizer are often combined. Another option for anxious depression treatment is cognitive therapy.
