The comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a network analysis

ObjectivePeople with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently suffer from comorbid anxiety and depression. From the perspective of the network model, this comorbidity is thought to be an interacting system of three symptoms. In the study, we conducted a network analysis of anxiety and depressi...

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Main Authors: Sizhe Cheng, Zhiguo Chen, Chao Wu, Xinhong Li, Xin Shen, Rui Qiu, Nailong Tang, Chong Feng, Wenwen Wang, Jing Lv, Shuiping Yuan, Xufeng Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1567448/full
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author Sizhe Cheng
Zhiguo Chen
Chao Wu
Xinhong Li
Xin Shen
Rui Qiu
Nailong Tang
Chong Feng
Wenwen Wang
Jing Lv
Shuiping Yuan
Xufeng Liu
author_facet Sizhe Cheng
Zhiguo Chen
Chao Wu
Xinhong Li
Xin Shen
Rui Qiu
Nailong Tang
Chong Feng
Wenwen Wang
Jing Lv
Shuiping Yuan
Xufeng Liu
author_sort Sizhe Cheng
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivePeople with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently suffer from comorbid anxiety and depression. From the perspective of the network model, this comorbidity is thought to be an interacting system of three symptoms. In the study, we conducted a network analysis of anxiety and depression comorbidity in OCD, aiming to identify the central and bridge symptoms and make informed suggestions for clinical interventions and psychotherapy.MethodsA total of 356 individuals with OCD were enrolled in the study. The Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were selected to evaluate anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms, respectively, followed by network analysis to construct the interacting networks.Results“Panic” and “Distress caused by obsessive–compulsive behavior” had the highest expected influence, indicating that the two variables were the most associated nodes in the network. “Tachycardia,” “Constipation,” “Fatigue,” “Panic,” “Easy fatiguability, weakness,” “Palpitation,” “Crying spells,” “Psychomotor agitation,” “Mental disintegration,” and “Nightmares” were the bridge nodes that had the strongest connection with OCD.ConclusionsPanic and distress caused by obsessive-compulsive, which are the central and bridge symptoms of the interacting network of anxiety and depression symptoms in OCD, might be a significant transdiagnostic intervention target for the management of the comorbidity. Additionally, it might be beneficial to consider implementing clinical prevention and psychotherapy, focusing on somatic symptoms, psychological symptoms, and sleep that have the strongest associations with OCD.
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spelling doaj-art-994e2e53485b4cef985cdac657a5f64d2025-08-20T03:52:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-05-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15674481567448The comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a network analysisSizhe Cheng0Zhiguo Chen1Chao Wu2Xinhong Li3Xin Shen4Rui Qiu5Nailong Tang6Chong Feng7Wenwen Wang8Jing Lv9Shuiping Yuan10Xufeng Liu11School of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xian, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, No.907 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Nanping, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Air Force Medical University, Xian, ChinaDepartment of General Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, No.907 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Nanping, ChinaSchool of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xian, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, No.907 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Nanping, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, No.907 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Nanping, ChinaDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Air Force Medical University, Xian, ChinaThe Second Medical Center & National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, No.907 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Nanping, ChinaSchool of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xian, ChinaObjectivePeople with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently suffer from comorbid anxiety and depression. From the perspective of the network model, this comorbidity is thought to be an interacting system of three symptoms. In the study, we conducted a network analysis of anxiety and depression comorbidity in OCD, aiming to identify the central and bridge symptoms and make informed suggestions for clinical interventions and psychotherapy.MethodsA total of 356 individuals with OCD were enrolled in the study. The Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were selected to evaluate anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms, respectively, followed by network analysis to construct the interacting networks.Results“Panic” and “Distress caused by obsessive–compulsive behavior” had the highest expected influence, indicating that the two variables were the most associated nodes in the network. “Tachycardia,” “Constipation,” “Fatigue,” “Panic,” “Easy fatiguability, weakness,” “Palpitation,” “Crying spells,” “Psychomotor agitation,” “Mental disintegration,” and “Nightmares” were the bridge nodes that had the strongest connection with OCD.ConclusionsPanic and distress caused by obsessive-compulsive, which are the central and bridge symptoms of the interacting network of anxiety and depression symptoms in OCD, might be a significant transdiagnostic intervention target for the management of the comorbidity. Additionally, it might be beneficial to consider implementing clinical prevention and psychotherapy, focusing on somatic symptoms, psychological symptoms, and sleep that have the strongest associations with OCD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1567448/fullobsessive-compulsive disorderanxietydepressionnetwork analysiscomorbidity
spellingShingle Sizhe Cheng
Zhiguo Chen
Chao Wu
Xinhong Li
Xin Shen
Rui Qiu
Nailong Tang
Chong Feng
Wenwen Wang
Jing Lv
Shuiping Yuan
Xufeng Liu
The comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a network analysis
Frontiers in Psychiatry
obsessive-compulsive disorder
anxiety
depression
network analysis
comorbidity
title The comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a network analysis
title_full The comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a network analysis
title_fullStr The comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a network analysis
title_full_unstemmed The comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a network analysis
title_short The comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a network analysis
title_sort comorbidity of anxiety and depression symptoms in obsessive compulsive disorder a network analysis
topic obsessive-compulsive disorder
anxiety
depression
network analysis
comorbidity
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1567448/full
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