The Link Between Anxiety and Depression

The existence of a strong relation between depression and anxiety in children and adolescents is beyond dispute (Cole, Peeke, Martin, Truglio & Seroczynski, 1998).

Equally clear, however, is the existence of noteworthy differences between these disorders, especially with regard to age of onset, duration, or associated features.

Children with both anxiety and depression tend to be older than their anxious only, or depressed only counterparts.

They also seem to be more symptomatic, with anxiety symptoms typically predating the depressive symptoms.

Research in the United States and the Netherlands is now beginning to provide support for a temporal, if not causal, relation between anxiety and depression.