ABSTRACT
Depression and panic disorder are both common psychiatric conditions. Traditionally, they have been seen as distinct entities. However, their extensive comorbidity casts doubt on the validity of this distinction. Comorbidity is defined as the presence of more than one disorder in a person over a lifetime, or in a certain period of time. It appears to be the norm rather than the exception in the case of anxiety disorders and depression (Wittchen 1996a).
