Does Medical Comorbidity Affect Outcomes in Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are often accompanied by medical comorbidities that complicate treatment and might worsen outcomes. Researchers reviewed data from a multisite, randomized study of collaborative care (“Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management”) for treating anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress, panic, and social anxiety disorders) in primary-care settings (NEJM JW General Medicine May 27 2010) to examine outcomes of 422 patients with zero or one chronic medical disorders and 582 with two or more comorbidities.

All patients received usual care from their primary-care physicians. Those receiving the intervention also met with a clinical specialist who provided computer-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or m…