A decade-long comparison of depressive symptom networks in Asian patients with depressive disorders: Findings from REAP studies in 2023 and 2013 - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #Asian-population
- #network-analysis
- #depressive-disorders
- Network analysis was used to compare depressive symptom structures in Asian patients from 2013 and 2023.
- The study involved large-scale, multi-country surveys with 2298 patients in 2023 and 1303 in 2013.
- Depressive symptoms were rated by clinicians following NICE guidelines, analyzing 10 symptom domains.
- In 2023, the strongest symptom associations were between low self-confidence and guilt, and between disturbed sleep and appetite changes.
- Low self-confidence was the most central symptom in 2023, whereas persistent sadness was central in 2013.
- Network structures significantly differed between the two years, with 38 connections in 2023 vs. 36 in 2013.
- Subgroup analyses revealed differences based on gender and geographic region.
- Contextual influences like the COVID-19 pandemic may explain the observed changes in symptom networks.
- Self-critical symptoms were identified as potential targets for clinical interventions.