The relations between different components of intolerance of uncertainty and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder: a network analysis.
BMC Psychiatry
; 21(1): 448, 2021 09 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34507563
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is considered as a specific risk factor in the development and maintenance of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Yet, researches have investigated the relations between IU and GAD (or worry) using total scores on self-report measures. This ignores that there are different components exist in IU and the heterogeneity of GAD symptoms. In the present study, we explored the relations among different components of IU and symptoms of GAD.METHODS:
A dimensional approach which take individual differences into consideration in different components of IU along a full range of normal to abnormal symptom severity levels of GAD were used in this study. Components of IU were measured by 12-item Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale and symptoms of GAD were measured by Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Questionnaire. Regularized partial-correlation network was estimated using cross-sectional data from 624 university students.RESULTS:
Four strongest edges are between components of IU, like "Unforeseen events upset me greatly" and "It frustrates me not having all the information I need". Two strongest edges are between symptoms of GAD, like "Being so restless that it is hard to sit still" and "Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen". Symptom "Worrying too much about different things" and component "It frustrates me not having all the information I need" have the highest expected influences in the present network. In the community of IU, component "It frustrates me not having all the information I need" has the highest bridge expected influence. And in the community of GAD, symptoms "Worrying too much about different things" and "Not being able to stop or control worrying" have the highest bridge expected influence.CONCLUSIONS:
This study reveals potential pathways between different components of IU and various symptoms of GAD. Understanding how putative risk factors such as different components of IU are related to symptoms of GAD may provide some references for related preventions and interventions, such as targeting component "It frustrates me not having all the information I need" may be more effective at reducing symptoms of GAD than targeting other components of IU.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Anxiety
/
Anxiety Disorders
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
BMC Psychiatry
Journal subject:
PSIQUIATRIA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China