Affective Disorders and Anxiety Disorders

Comorbidities with affective disorders are common in patients with eating disorders. In clinical practice, it can be assumed that more than half of patients currently meet or have previously met the criteria for another mental disorder diagnosis. Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common. Depending on the current severity of the additional symptoms, psychotherapeutic or pharmacological treatments should be adjusted accordingly. During the course of treatment, it should be noted that symptoms can change and shift, e.g., eating disorder symptoms may decrease, but depressive symptoms may intensify. It is discussed whether the triad of eating disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders represent different disorder patterns or whether they are rather expressions of a common underlying disorder.