Bipolar Disorder with Anxiety

• Anxiety can be present as one of the symptoms associated with Bipolar Disorder. In this case anxiety is not serious enough to warrant its own diagnosis and is not likely to significantly impact the treatment of Bipolar Disorder.
  
  

Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety Disorder

• If anxiety symptoms are severe and long lasting, they may warrant the diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, which will affect treatment and outcome substantially. Both conditions must be taken into account when deciding on a treatment.
  
  

Treatments

• Treatments for Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety Disorder usually involve medication and/or psychotherapy. Typically more than one treatment is required to address the total set of symptoms.
  
  

Medications

• Antidepressants are commonly used to treat anxiety but they can worsen Bipolar symptoms. Treatment is more likely to involve a Benzodiazapine such as Valium or Xanax for anxiety and a mood stabilizing drug such as Lithium to address Bipolar symptoms.
  
  

Implications

• Outcome for patients with Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety Disorder is more uncertain than when a single diagnosis is present. Treatment can last longer and be more complex and symptoms more severe and persistent.