Anxious-depressive disorder: What it is and what its symptoms are

Anxious-depressive mixed disorder is a fairly common problem in the population. Those suffering from it suffer from symptoms of anxiety and depression, these two disorders are usually talked about separately, a problem that is not covered by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM 5), but in the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (ICE 10).

This disorder has worsened since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic

WHO defines it as a complication that appears when there are both symptoms of anxiety and depression, but without any of these being predominant. The anxious symptomatology is the one that has the highest prevalence in the general population, but not far away, there is also a high incidence of depressive symptomatology. Both share commonalities, and it is very common in cases of people suffering from depression, eager traits, and vice versa. The anxious-depressive mixed disorder does not have a greater impact of one trait than another.

This disorder has worsened since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a WHO study, this situation has disrupted or crippled the essential mental health services of 93 per cent of the world’s countries, while the demand for mental health care is increasing. The study, which covers 130 countries, provides the first global data on the devastating effects of COVID-19 on access to mental health services and highlights the urgent need to increase funding.‎

Main symptoms of anxious-depressive disorder

The DSM proposes a series of criteria for making the diagnosis of this disorder only for research purposes. The essential characteristic is a persistent or recurrent dysphoric mood that lasts at least 1 month. This mood is accompanied by additional symptoms of the same duration, which may be the following:

– Loss of interest or ability to enjoy

– Sleep disorders

– Lack of energy

– Difficulties of concentration

– Irritability

– Concern

– Crying easily

– Low self-esteem

– State of hyper-vigilance

Treatment of anxious-depressive disorder

The treatment of the anxious-depressive mixed disorder is complex, as anxiety and depression are often linked and can appear together in those who suffer from them, but they are still disorders with their characteristics, and different treatments are applied in each.

A strategy based on cognitive behavioral therapy has been successfully used, sometimes in combination with pharmacological treatment, during which activities are used to restore the patient’s sense of control, increase their self-esteem and make the world see it in a more realistic way.

In addition, techniques such as psychoeducation are also used, very important in both this disorder and in other mental disorders, since explaining to patients what happens helps them understand the disease, which positively influences its recovery; and the techniques of relaxation or breathing training.