Korean J Psychosom Med.  2022 Dec;30(2):172-178. 10.22722/KJPM.2022.30.2.172.

Network Structure of Depressive Symptoms in General Population

• Park Si
• Lee KK
• Lee SB
• Lee JJ
• Kim KM
• Jeong HS
• Kim D

• KMID: 2538663
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22722/KJPM.2022.30.2.172

Abstract

Objectives
：Although subclinical depression symptoms are associated with suicidal idea, most research have focused on clinical depression such as major depressive disorder or dysthymia. The aim of this study is to investigate network structure of depressive symptom and to reveal which symptoms are associated with suicidal ideation.
Methods
：We used part of data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were between 19 and 65 years of age (N=8,741). Network analysis with Isingfit model is used to reveal network structure of depressive symptoms and most central symptom and edges assessed by patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9).
Results
：The most two central symptoms were psychomotor activity and suicidal ideation. The strongest edge was psychomotor activity-suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation also has strong association with depressive mood and worthlessness.
Conclusions
：These results suggest that psychomotor activity and suicidal ideation can serve as treatment target for subclinical depression and psychomotor activity, worthlessness and depressed mood may be important factor for early intervention of suicidal ideation.

Keyword

Suicidal ideation; Depression; Network analysis; Centrality