Depression and Anxiety Disorders

Abstract

Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most commonly encountered medical conditions. Depression and anxiety disorders are commonly found together and frequently accompany general medical disease, adversely affecting their course and treatment. Depression has several clinically distinct subtypes which are sometimes difficult to diagnose. Five main anxiety disorders known as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, spesific phobia and post traumatic stres disorder and several related disorders, as well as anxiety disorders due to a medical condition, constitute the anxiety disorders family. Diagnosis and treatment of these disorders are of concern to physicians other than psychiatrists, because of their effect on course and prognosis of general medical diseases. This is a concise and up to date overview of the epidemiology, physiopathology, comorbidity, diagnosis and treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.