Extended network analysis: from psychopathology to chronic illness

• Published in: BMC psychiatry Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 119
• Main Authors: Isvoranu, Adela-Maria, Abdin, Edimansyah, Chong, Siow Ann, Vaingankar, Janhavi, Borsboom, Denny, Subramaniam, Mythily
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 27.02.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol use; Chronic Disease; Chronic diseases; Chronic illness; Chronic illnesses; Comorbidity; Contemporary problems; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Development and progression; Diabetes; Diagnosis; Emotional disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental illness; Mood disorders; Network analysis; Network psychometrics; Physical health; Psychiatry; Psychological aspects; Psychopathology; Psychosis; Risk factors; Singapore - epidemiology; Variables; Singapore; Chronic illness; Network analysis; Network psychometrics; Physical health; Mental health; Psychopathology; Functioning
• ISSN: 1471-244X; 1471-244X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03128-y

Understanding complex associations between psychopathology and chronic illness is instrumental in facilitating both research and treatment progress. The current study is the first and only network-based study to provide such an encompassing view of unique associations between a multitude of mental and physical health-related domains. The current analyses were based on the Singapore Mental Health Study, a cross-sectional study of adult Singapore residents. The study sample consisted of 6616 respondents, of which 49.8% were male and 50.2% female. A network structure was constructed to examine associations between psychopathology, alcohol use, gambling, major chronic conditions, and functioning. The network structure identified what we have labeled a Cartesian graph: a network visibly split into a psychopathological domain and a physical health domain. The borders between these domains were fuzzy and bridged by various cross-domain associations, with functioning items playing an important role in bridging chronic conditions to psychopathology. Current results deliver a comprehensive overview of the complex relation between psychopathology, functioning, and chronic illness, highlighting potential pathways to comorbidity.