The comorbidity of anxiety disorders in bipolar I and bipolar II patients among Turkish population

High rates of anxiety disorders have been reported in bipolar disorders. The study aimed to investigate prevalence of anxiety disorders in remitted bipolar subjects and their influence on the illness severity. Bipolar subjects with anxiety disorders were younger, had earlier age at onset of illness, and were overrepresented by female subjects and those with earlier onset illness compared to those without anxiety disorder. The study demonstrated that (1) anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in bipolar subjects, (2) individual anxiety disorders, particularly SP and PD seem to have an effect on illness severity, (3) bipolar subjects with comorbid anxiety tend to have a poorer course and are less responsive to treatment, and (4) anxiety tends to be associated with an earlier age at onset of bipolar disorder (BPD) and results in a more complicated and severe disease course.

► AnxD are highly prevalent in bipolar subjects ► individual AnxD, particularly SP and PD seem to have an effect on illness severity ► bipolar subjects with comorbid anxiety tend to have a poorer course and are less responsive to treatment ► anxiety tends to be associated with an earlier age at onset of BPD and results in a more complicated and severe disease course.