Models of Comorbidity

Abstract

Most existing theories of disease comorbidity provide only a broad overview of the manner in which comorbidity is likely to arise, although these broad overarching theories have, for the most part, not been tested empirically. Further, there are few comorbidity theories that are comprehensive yet specific enough to help guide the exploration of the relationships between specific comorbid disorders and the likely role played by intervening factors. As a result, we know little about the extent to which comorbidity is relevant to our understanding of single disorders and conditions; the mechanisms likely to underpin the development of the comorbidities; and the nature of the interactions between specific risk factors and comorbid disorders.