Network analysis of central symptoms in Chinese young adults with subthreshold depression
Abstract Subthreshold depression (SD) is a prevalent condition among young adults, significantly increasing the risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD). While the symptoms of MDD are well-documented, the network structure and key symptoms of SD, which forms a complex, interdependent syste...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Translational Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03307-5 |
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| author | Xiumin Jiang Xiaotong Wang Lin Yu Jun He Shengwei Wu Yuanyuan Zhou Meng Zhang Lin Yao Jinglan Yan Yuanjia Zheng Yongjun Chen |
| author_facet | Xiumin Jiang Xiaotong Wang Lin Yu Jun He Shengwei Wu Yuanyuan Zhou Meng Zhang Lin Yao Jinglan Yan Yuanjia Zheng Yongjun Chen |
| author_sort | Xiumin Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Subthreshold depression (SD) is a prevalent condition among young adults, significantly increasing the risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD). While the symptoms of MDD are well-documented, the network structure and key symptoms of SD, which forms a complex, interdependent system, have not been fully elucidated. This study sought to identify the central symptoms and their interconnections within the depressive symptom network in young adults with SD. A total of 834 Chinese young adults with SD completed the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory 2nd version (BDI-II) and were included in this study. Network analysis was employed to identify central symptoms (nodes) and associations between symptoms (edges) as assessed by the BDI-II. Additionally, centrality indicators for network robustness underwent assessment through stability and accuracy tests. The analysis revealed that Loss of interest was the most central node in the SD symptom network, with Tiredness/fatigue and Agitation following closely. Significant associations were observed between Loss of energy and Concentration difficulties, Agitation and Irritability, Guilty feelings and Self-dislike, as well as Tiredness and Loss of pleasure. The network demonstrated robustness across stability and accuracy assessments. Loss of interest, Tiredness/fatigue, and Agitation were pivotal symptoms within the depressive symptom network of SD in young adults. These symptoms may serve as critical targets for therapeutic interventions and should be prioritized in future psychological and neurobiological research to advance our understanding of SD. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ae32f8ba620d47aa8efbebd068a5befe |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2158-3188 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-ae32f8ba620d47aa8efbebd068a5befe2025-08-20T03:40:50ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882025-03-011511910.1038/s41398-025-03307-5Network analysis of central symptoms in Chinese young adults with subthreshold depressionXiumin Jiang0Xiaotong Wang1Lin Yu2Jun He3Shengwei Wu4Yuanyuan Zhou5Meng Zhang6Lin Yao7Jinglan Yan8Yuanjia Zheng9Yongjun Chen10Institute of acupuncture and moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineSchool of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityRehabilitation Center, Counseling Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityInstitute of acupuncture and moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of acupuncture and moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of acupuncture and moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of acupuncture and moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of acupuncture and moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineInstitute of acupuncture and moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineAbstract Subthreshold depression (SD) is a prevalent condition among young adults, significantly increasing the risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD). While the symptoms of MDD are well-documented, the network structure and key symptoms of SD, which forms a complex, interdependent system, have not been fully elucidated. This study sought to identify the central symptoms and their interconnections within the depressive symptom network in young adults with SD. A total of 834 Chinese young adults with SD completed the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory 2nd version (BDI-II) and were included in this study. Network analysis was employed to identify central symptoms (nodes) and associations between symptoms (edges) as assessed by the BDI-II. Additionally, centrality indicators for network robustness underwent assessment through stability and accuracy tests. The analysis revealed that Loss of interest was the most central node in the SD symptom network, with Tiredness/fatigue and Agitation following closely. Significant associations were observed between Loss of energy and Concentration difficulties, Agitation and Irritability, Guilty feelings and Self-dislike, as well as Tiredness and Loss of pleasure. The network demonstrated robustness across stability and accuracy assessments. Loss of interest, Tiredness/fatigue, and Agitation were pivotal symptoms within the depressive symptom network of SD in young adults. These symptoms may serve as critical targets for therapeutic interventions and should be prioritized in future psychological and neurobiological research to advance our understanding of SD.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03307-5 |
| spellingShingle | Xiumin Jiang Xiaotong Wang Lin Yu Jun He Shengwei Wu Yuanyuan Zhou Meng Zhang Lin Yao Jinglan Yan Yuanjia Zheng Yongjun Chen Network analysis of central symptoms in Chinese young adults with subthreshold depression Translational Psychiatry |
| title | Network analysis of central symptoms in Chinese young adults with subthreshold depression |
| title_full | Network analysis of central symptoms in Chinese young adults with subthreshold depression |
| title_fullStr | Network analysis of central symptoms in Chinese young adults with subthreshold depression |
| title_full_unstemmed | Network analysis of central symptoms in Chinese young adults with subthreshold depression |
| title_short | Network analysis of central symptoms in Chinese young adults with subthreshold depression |
| title_sort | network analysis of central symptoms in chinese young adults with subthreshold depression |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03307-5 |
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