Mixed anxiety–depressive disorder (MADD)

Mixed anxiety–depressive disorder (MADD) is a diagnostic category-defining patient who has both anxiety and depressive symptoms of limited and equal intensity accompanied by at least some autonomic features. Autonomic features are involuntary physical symptoms usually caused by an overactive nervous system, such as panic attacks or intestinal distress. The World Health Organization’s ICD-10 describes Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder: “…when symptoms of anxiety and depression are both present, but neither is clearly predominant, and neither type of symptom is present to the extent that justifies a diagnosis if considered separately. When both anxiety and depressive symptoms are present and severe enough to justify individual diagnoses, both diagnoses should be recorded and this category should not be used.”The mixed anxiety-depressive disorder should only be considered as a diagnosis when the symptoms impede a person’s functioning in day-to-day life and/or decrease their quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression are roughly in equal measure without the severity of the major depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder. Typically, this means that the symptoms of the mixed anxiety-depressive disorder are not severe if the anxiety and depression are considered separately. However, when placed together, their effect is strong enough to cause distress and a decrease in functioning. This is what causes mixed anxiety-depressive disorder to be classified as its own distinct psychological disorder.see more at WikipediaCheck More at http://christmas.effectsofanxiety.net/