Why do Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depression so often feel inseparable in our patients?

⚪ Clinical pearl: Consider the conceptual framework of "anxious misery" disorders versus "fear" disorders. GAD has a uniquely strong association with major depressive disorder, much more so than with fear-based conditions (like panic disorder or phobias). While the data was not deemed strong enough to formally group GAD and MDD together in DSM-5, viewing them as part of a broader "anxious misery" spectrum can be clinically powerful. This model helps explain their high comorbidity and overlapping symptom profiles, guiding a more integrated assessment for both conditions.

🔗 To learn more about this pearl, check out the Carlat Article: https://www.thecarlatreport.com/articles/2037-anxiety-disorders-in-dsm-5-and-beyond