Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background The mental health burden of COVID-19 has been examined in different settings. Existing research has relied on the latent variable model in assessing COVID-19-related distress. Network theory provides an alternative framework wherein symptoms are conceptualised as causal, interconnected constituents rather than outcomes of mental disorders. Aims To assess networks of self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals. Method Consenting individuals in different quarantine centres in Qatar completed the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale. We used partial correlation network methods to illustrate interactions of self-reported psychopathology. Results Participants with COVID-19 were significantly older and had a significantly higher proportion of males. The most central node was COVID-19, followed by thoughts of self-harm. COVID-19 status was strongly positively connected to thoughts of self-harm, which was positively connected to psychomotor changes, which were connected to decreased concentration. COVID-19 status was also positively connected to feeling anxious, which was strongly connected to inability to concentrate, which was connected to feeling afraid. Conclusions COVID-19 was the most influential factor, with the highest number and strength of connections to psychopathology in a network of anxiety and depressive symptoms in a quarantine setting. Beyond the resolution of the infection, therapeutic interventions targeting psychomotor changes might prove beneficial in reducing suicidality among quarantined individuals with COVID-19. Follow-up with mental health services after COVID-19 infection is needed to restore psychological well-being. Further research is needed to understand the short- and long-term psychological effects of COVID-19, and the outcomes of different therapeutic interventions.

Functional brain connectome-transcriptional landscape linking to transdiagnostic factors of psychopathological symptoms

“…Although widely studied, probing into the network-wise architectures of pathopsychological connectome of depression and anxiety was still one of the most promising pathway to understand this transdiagnostic factor 4,44 . In the present study, we found the integrative high centrality of external life meaning perception (e.g., "perceiving meaningless life") and internal emotional exhaustion (e.g., "feeling exhaustion") in this symptom-centered network in a preclinical adult population, which merited to characterize early vulnerable symptoms for "atrisk or preclinical" ones 8,[45][46][47][48][49] . Thus, these findings complement previous studies by revealing preclinical or "at-risk" trans-symptoms to the anxiety and depression.…”

A network analysis of anxiety and depression symptoms among Chinese nurses in the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Center and bridge symptoms are vital in triggering and maintaining the disorder network, which might serve as potential intervention targets. Increasing studies applied the network approach to assess anxiety and depression among the general population, college students, adolescents, and clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, which documented both common and unique depression-anxiety network across different populations ( 13 – 17 ). However, as far as we know, no previous study described anxiety and depression symptoms among nurses via the network model.…”

Depression, COVID-19 Anxiety, Subjective Well-being, and Academic Performance in University Students With COVID-19-Infected Relatives: A Network Analysis

“…Even though network analysis studies have been conducted during the pandemic of COVID-19 ( Abdul Karim et al, 2021 ; Zavlis et al, 2021 ), clinical features of depression and anxiety, as well as experiences of well-being may vary depending on sample characteristics, culture, socioeconomic status or stressors ( Bai et al, 2021 ). This implies that the results of network analysis in a given group are not easily applicable to other groups.…”