What term means that an individual has two or more disorders at the same time?

• A. Comorbidity
• B. Equifinality
• C. Adaptive Functioning
• D. Etiology

Answer: (A)

Having two or more disorders at the same time is called comorbidity. This term captures the situation where a person meets diagnostic criteria for multiple conditions concurrently, which often affects how symptoms interact and how treatment is planned. For example, anxiety and depression frequently occur together, shaping both prognosis and the approach a clinician takes.

Equifinality refers to different developmental routes ending in the same outcome, not to the co-occurrence of disorders within one person. Adaptive functioning describes how well someone can perform daily tasks and manage day-to-day life, rather than the presence of multiple disorders. Etiology means the causes or origins of a disorder, not the fact that several disorders are present at once.