Comorbidity
also known as Co-occurring conditions, co-occurring disorders
Medically reviewed by the Shrinkopedia editorial team, led by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA.
1 min read · 166 words
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Comorbidity is the co-occurrence of two or more conditions in the same person. In mental health it's the rule, not the exception. Roughly half of people who meet criteria for one psychiatric condition meet criteria for another within their lifetime. Common combinations include depression with anxiety, PTSD with substance use, ADHD with anxiety, and eating disorders with OCD or depression.
Why it matters clinically
Comorbidity changes how a condition presents, what treatment is likely to work, what side effects to watch for, and how to sequence care. It's also a common reason a person doesn't respond to a first treatment attempt: the treatment addressed one condition, but a second unaddressed condition kept the picture the same.
Where this term appears in Shrinkopedia
Nearly every condition entry names common comorbidities in a dedicated section. See for example major depressive disorder, PTSD, ADHD, or anorexia nervosa.
For the plain-language definition of the word, see comorbidity on Shrinktionary, the network's canonical language layer.
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How to cite this page
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Comorbidity. Shrinkopedia, medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA. https://shrinkopedia.com/terms/comorbidity/- APA
Shrinkopedia. (2026, July 11). Comorbidity. Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA. https://shrinkopedia.com/terms/comorbidity/- MLA
"Comorbidity." Shrinkopedia, 11 July 2026, https://shrinkopedia.com/terms/comorbidity/.
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