Description

Comorbidity refers to a specific disease or disorder that might be symptomatic of another disease but may also be characterized by its own particular symptoms and be classified accordingly. The two disorders are intrinsically interrelated, and it is sometimes difficult to determine which led to the other or if, in fact, they were both precipitated by another factor or event. They are also called co-occurring disorders or concurrent disorders.

Treatment

Both the diagnosis and treatment of comorbid present challenges. It is a necessary and critical task of the health professional, when dealing with comorbid disorders, to look deeply into and unravel the symptoms of each individual disorder as well as those symptoms that overlap (diseases), so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. If this level of care is provided, the patient is more likely to obtain effectual treatment for the comorbid illnesses.