Bipolar affective disorder (BPD) frequently occurs with comorbid mental health problems. It has been shown that the prevalence of comorbid BPD and anxiety symptoms is especially high. This is important because, for a person affected by both BPD and anxiety, there is a negative impact on the symptoms, treatment response and recovery. A clinician faces particular treatment challenges when managing these comorbid conditions due to a limited evidence base for effective interventions. The frequent occurrence of anxiety symptoms and BPD together has informed theories of the shared aetiology of these conditions.
Keywords: bipolar, anxiety