Asle Hoffart, Nora Skjerdingstad, René Freichel, Sverre Urnes Johnson, Sacha Epskamp, Omid V. Ebrahimi
{"title":"Mapping the Dynamics of Generalized Anxiety Symptoms and Actionable Transdiagnostic Mechanisms: A Panel Study","authors":"Asle Hoffart, Nora Skjerdingstad, René Freichel, Sverre Urnes Johnson, Sacha Epskamp, Omid V. Ebrahimi","doi":"10.1155/da/1885004","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n <p><b>Background:</b> The long-term dynamic interaction between symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and their theorized mechanistic processes derived from three treatment models of GAD—the emotion dysregulation model, the model underlying metacognitive therapy (MCT), and the intolerance of uncertainty model—was investigated.</p>\n <p><b>Methods:</b> Four data waves 2 months apart were delivered by a representative population sample of 4361 participants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. Networks were estimated using the newly developed panel graphical vector autoregression (panel-GVAR) methods.</p>\n <p><b>Results:</b> In the temporal network, and consistent with processes stipulated in the metacognitive model, the experience that worry is uncontrollable predicted the GAD symptom fear of awful events, which in turn predicted a range of other GAD symptoms, that is, anxiety, restlessness, and irritability. Fear of awful events had high outstrength, that is, predicted other variables to a large degree. Inconsistent with the metacognitive model, the coping strategy thought suppression negatively predicted restlessness. Consistent with the emotion dysregulation model, emotion dysregulation predicted avoidance. No relationships proposed by the intolerance of uncertainty model of GAD were identified in the temporal network. The contemporaneous network was dense with nodes clustering according to the constructs they belonged to.</p>\n <p><b>Conclusions:</b> The findings indicate the importance of the theory-derived variables, the experience and belief that worry is uncontrollable and emotion dysregulation, as potential targets for intervention to alleviate GAD symptoms. The findings also indicate that uncontrollability of worry and fear of awful events should be considered central symptoms of GAD in a within-individual diagnostics supplementary to current diagnostic manuals, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5).</p>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":55179,"journal":{"name":"Depression and Anxiety","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/da/1885004","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Depression and Anxiety","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/da/1885004","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The long-term dynamic interaction between symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and their theorized mechanistic processes derived from three treatment models of GAD—the emotion dysregulation model, the model underlying metacognitive therapy (MCT), and the intolerance of uncertainty model—was investigated.
Methods: Four data waves 2 months apart were delivered by a representative population sample of 4361 participants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. Networks were estimated using the newly developed panel graphical vector autoregression (panel-GVAR) methods.
Results: In the temporal network, and consistent with processes stipulated in the metacognitive model, the experience that worry is uncontrollable predicted the GAD symptom fear of awful events, which in turn predicted a range of other GAD symptoms, that is, anxiety, restlessness, and irritability. Fear of awful events had high outstrength, that is, predicted other variables to a large degree. Inconsistent with the metacognitive model, the coping strategy thought suppression negatively predicted restlessness. Consistent with the emotion dysregulation model, emotion dysregulation predicted avoidance. No relationships proposed by the intolerance of uncertainty model of GAD were identified in the temporal network. The contemporaneous network was dense with nodes clustering according to the constructs they belonged to.
Conclusions: The findings indicate the importance of the theory-derived variables, the experience and belief that worry is uncontrollable and emotion dysregulation, as potential targets for intervention to alleviate GAD symptoms. The findings also indicate that uncontrollability of worry and fear of awful events should be considered central symptoms of GAD in a within-individual diagnostics supplementary to current diagnostic manuals, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5).
期刊介绍：
Depression and Anxiety is a scientific journal that focuses on the study of mood and anxiety disorders, as well as related phenomena in humans. The journal is dedicated to publishing high-quality research and review articles that contribute to the understanding and treatment of these conditions. The journal places a particular emphasis on articles that contribute to the clinical evaluation and care of individuals affected by mood and anxiety disorders. It prioritizes the publication of treatment-related research and review papers, as well as those that present novel findings that can directly impact clinical practice. The journal's goal is to advance the field by disseminating knowledge that can lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and management of these disorders, ultimately improving the quality of life for those who suffer from them.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
