Anxiety in depressive disorders

In this psychopathological study, the subjective experience of anxiety was investigated in depressive patients by means of a semistructured interview. Both International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) diagnostic criteria (melancholia or neurotic depression; N = 160 or 93, respectively) and the DSM-III classification system (major depressive episode with or without "melancholia"; N = 63 or 153, respectively) were applied. Anxiety can be identified in virtually all patients examined. In contrast, the themes of anxiety are subject to substantial differences. There is a statistically significant correlation between the extent of anxiety and the severity of depression by the Hamilton Depression Scale (Ham-D). However, a distinction between anxiety and depression is possible in the majority of cases if the contents of anxiety are taken into account.