Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study
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 co...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-11-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010607/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156923552104448 |
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| author | Mustafa Abdul Karim Sami Ouanes Shuja M. Reagu Majid Alabdulla |
| author_facet | Mustafa Abdul Karim Sami Ouanes Shuja M. Reagu Majid Alabdulla |
| author_sort | Mustafa Abdul Karim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:59:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7dd98944206f4d3eb5ab40aba26a92b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:59:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-7dd98944206f4d3eb5ab40aba26a92b92023-03-09T12:29:17ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242021-11-01710.1192/bjo.2021.1060Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional studyMustafa Abdul Karim0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0497-1528Sami Ouanes1Shuja M. Reagu2Majid Alabdulla3Psychiatry Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar; and Weill Cornell Medicine, QatarPsychiatry Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, QatarPsychiatry Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, QatarPsychiatry Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar; and College of Medicine, Qatar University, QatarBackground 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. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010607/type/journal_articleDepressive disordersanxiety disordersnetwork analysispandemicCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Mustafa Abdul Karim Sami Ouanes Shuja M. Reagu Majid Alabdulla Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study BJPsych Open Depressive disorders anxiety disorders network analysis pandemic COVID-19 |
| title | Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals cross sectional study |
| topic | Depressive disorders anxiety disorders network analysis pandemic COVID-19 |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010607/type/journal_article |
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