# Elusive word and its meaning thereof...please help **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 14, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elusive-word-and-its-meaning-thereof-please-help/57899 "2001-03-14T04:19:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elusive-word-and-its-meaning-thereof-please-help/57899/1 "2001-03-14T04:19:37Z")
I have been studying personality disorders, and the word **comorbidity** often arises in the texts thereof. I cannot find this word in any dictionary that I have looked in. (I have used almost a dozen, so far!) What does **comorbidity** mean? The following paragraph is an excerpt from one article about Avoidant Personality Disorder. I hope this helps in regards the context and usage of the word. > [@](#): > > It is common for persons with AvPD to have **comorbidity** with other personality disorders. AvPD is most often diagnosed with DPD, BPD, PPD, SPD, or StPD (DSM-IV, 1994, p. 663). Frances, et.al (1995, p. 376) note the considerable overlap between AvPD and DPD. These two personality disorders share interpersonal insecurity, low self-esteem, and a strong desire for interpersonal relationships. Benjamin (1993, p.301) describes the desperate attempts to avoid being alone that may be seen in DPD as an exclusionary indicator for AvPD. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elusive-word-and-its-meaning-thereof-please-help/57899/2 "2001-03-14T04:34:56Z")
I found it by searching medical dictionaries. Here’s a quickie definition: > [@](#): > > Comorbidity: The coexistence of two or more disease processes. Here’s a page with a more involved one: [http://www.graylab.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?comorbidity](http://www.graylab.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?comorbidity)