Investigating the network structure and causal relationships among bridge symptoms of comorbid depression and anxiety: A Bayesian network analysis

Abstract Background The network analysis method emphasizes the interaction between individual symptoms to identify shared or bridging symptoms between depression and anxiety to understand comorbidity. However, the network analysis and community detection approach have limitations in identifying causal relationships among symptoms. This study aims to address this gap by applying Bayesian network (BN) analysis to investigate potential causal relationships. Method Data were collected from a sample of newly enrolled college students. The network structure of depression and anxiety was estimated using the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD‐7) Scale measures, respectively. Shared symptoms between depression and anxiety were identified through network analysis and clique percolation (CP) method. The causal relationships among symptoms were estimated using BN. Results The strongest bridge symptoms, as indicated by bridge strength, include sad mood (PHQ2), motor (PHQ8), suicide (PHQ9), restlessness (GAD5), and irritability (GAD6). These bridge symptoms formed a distinct community using the CP algorithm. Sad mood (PHQ2) played an activating role, influencing other symptoms. Meanwhile, restlessness (GAD5) played a mediating role with reciprocal influences on both anxiety and depression symptoms. Motor (PHQ8), suicide (PHQ9), and irritability (GAD6) assumed recipient positions. Conclusion BN analysis presents a valuable approach for investigating the complex interplay between symptoms in the context of comorbid depression and anxiety. It identifies two activating symptoms (i.e., sadness and worry), which serve to underscore the fundamental differences between these two disorders. Additionally, psychomotor symptoms and suicidal ideations are recognized as recipient roles, being influenced by other symptoms within the network.