International Journal of Social Psychiatry最新文献

{"title":"A Systematic Review of Clinical Phenomenology, Differential Diagnosis and Prognostic Outcomes of Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorders.","authors":"Valerio Ricci, Giovanni Martinotti, Giuseppe Maina","doi":"10.1177/00207640261439774","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640261439774","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Distinguishing substance-induced psychotic disorders (SIPD) from primary psychotic disorders with concurrent substance use remains a critical diagnostic challenge for treatment planning and prognostic counseling.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To systematically review the clinical phenomenology of SIPD, identify distinguishing symptom patterns, and examine relationships between phenomenology and outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (1990-2025) was conducted for studies examining clinical characteristics of SIPD using standardized diagnostic criteria and validated instruments. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42025123563; 19/11/2025).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-six studies encompassing over 80,000 individuals were included. Cannabis-induced psychosis was consistently characterized by prominent positive symptoms, preserved negative domains, and elevated affective and anxiety features, with transition rates to schizophrenia spectrum disorders ranging from 36% to 46%. Methamphetamine-induced psychosis presented along a phenomenological gradient, from simple persecutory delusions and tactile hallucinations in transient cases-accompanied by markedly elevated violence rates (75.6%)-to complex multimodal sensory disturbances in persistent presentations. Despite these substance-specific signatures, substantial phenomenological overlap with primary psychotic disorders and poor diagnostic stability, with 25% to 39% of initial SIPD diagnoses converting to primary disorders over follow-up, limit the utility of cross-sectional assessment alone. Superior antipsychotic response at lower doses emerged as a potential marker favoring substance-induced over primary etiology.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>SIPD exhibit distinctive phenomenological signatures varying by substance class, yet considerable overlap with primary psychotic disorders and poor diagnostic stability underscore the necessity of longitudinal monitoring and integrated psychiatric-addiction care.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1070-1086"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147771198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mental Health Disorders and Coping Strategies Among Palestinian Refugees in Egypt During the 2023 War on Gaza: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Noha Fadl, Ammar Elsayed Mohamed Mohamed Shahtou, Hagar Mostafa Own, Muhammad Abdullatif Alkasaby, Suzan Abdel-Rahman, Rola Mahmoud Abdallah Tafesh, Saja Hasan Alzaanin, Hisham Mohammed Mahmoud Zourob, Mohammed Walid Ali Aljedaili, Fathi I A Shaheen, Rofaida Gamal Abdullah","doi":"10.1177/00207640251414176","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640251414176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The ongoing war on Gaza has a devastating impact on Palestinians, particularly on their psychological well-being.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To assess mental health disorders and coping strategies among Palestinians displaced to Egypt during the 2023 Gaza war.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study included Palestinian refugees older than 18 years. Impact of Event Scale-6, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Coping Strategies Inventory-Short Form were used to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and coping mechanisms, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 558 participants, 62.2% were females, with a mean age of 33.91 ± 11.84 years. Prevalence rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression were 37.5%, 94.1%, and 94.8%, respectively. Emotion disengagement was the most adopted coping strategy. Multiple linear regression showed that PTSD was positively associated with being female, anxiety, depression, and the use of problem engagement, problem disengagement, and emotion disengagement coping strategies. Very good financial status and difficulty accessing healthcare were negatively associated with PTSD. Anxiety was associated with older age, being female, difficulty finding a job, war-related injury, PTSD, depression, and problem disengagement, while emotion engagement was protective. Depression was associated with a family history of mental illness, housing difficulties, emotion disengagement, anxiety, and PTSD, while problem engagement and being female were protective.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Context-sensitive psychosocial interventions that strengthen coping strategies are essential to alleviate the psychological burden among this vulnerable population.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1317-1330"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13478424/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146093338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Posttraumatic Stress and Dissociative Symptoms Among Adolescents: Prevalence, Persistence, and Association with Depression After 1 Year.","authors":"Hong Wang Fung, Grace Wing Ka Ho, Edward K S Wang, Fulei Geng","doi":"10.1177/00207640251403830","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640251403830","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous studies showed that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociation are common trauma-related mental health problems.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study examined their prevalence, long-term persistence, and association with depression among adolescents in the general population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We assessed trauma exposure, PTSD, dissociation, and depression in a sample of 1,359 secondary school students in China at two timepoints 1 year apart.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of all participants, 19.0% had either or both probable PTSD and dissociative symptoms at baseline; 52.1% of participants with probable depression presented with co-occurring trauma-related symptoms. The 1-year persistence rate for probable PTSD and dissociative symptoms was 47% and 36.1%, respectively. After controlling for demographic variables and baseline depressive symptoms, baseline PTSD symptoms significantly predicted depressive symptoms at follow-up (β = .208, <i>p</i> < .001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study contributes to the limited literature on PTSD and dissociative symptoms in general samples of adolescents, providing important data regarding their prevalence, persistence, and association with depressive symptoms. The results also support the demoralization model. Trauma-related symptoms are prevalent among young people and are associated with more depressive symptoms over time. Early identification of PTSD and dissociation is important.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1181-1188"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145833806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of Sociodemographic Factors, Community Support, and Perceived Prejudice on Quality of Life Among First-Generation Venezuelan Migrants in Southern Brazil.","authors":"Pedro Henrique Conte Gil, Adolfo Pizzinato, Alice Einloft Brunnet","doi":"10.1177/00207640251394580","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640251394580","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Venezuelan migratory flow is considered as the largest exodus in Latin America's recent history. More than 640,000 Venezuelans have entered Brazilian territory in recent years.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>Examine whether sociodemographic, community support, and perceived prejudice variables are associated with the physical and psychological dimensions of Quality of Life (QoL) among first-generation Venezuelan migrants in Southern Brazil.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The sample was composed of 195 participants who fulfilled 4 pen-and-paper instruments about: sociodemographic characteristics, QoL, community support, and perceived prejudice. Linear regression models were used to investigate the variables associated with physical and psychological QoL.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Prejudice was negatively associated with physical (β = -.279, <i>p</i> < .001) and psychological QoL (β = -.351, <i>p</i> < .001), whereas community support was positively associated (β = -.159, <i>p</i> = .026) to physical QoL. Both models were significant and explained 16.5% (physical) and 17.9% (psychological) of the variance. Post hoc analysis pointed out that the effect of community support on psychological QoL was mediated by perceived prejudice.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results point out the relevance of developing public policies to raise awareness of the host community regarding international migration. This approach may tackle negative perceptions toward migrants, while reducing discriminatory practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1101-1111"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145714218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding Healthcare Professionals' Decision-Making Regarding Physical Restraint in Acute Psychiatric Wards: A Grounded Theory Study.","authors":"Federica Canzan, Sara Patuzzo Manzati, Marta Peloso, Jessica Longhini, Pierantonio Dal Bosco, Tobia Antonino, Giuseppe Imperadore, Antonio Lasalvia","doi":"10.1177/00207640251399739","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640251399739","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical restraint remains a controversial intervention in psychiatric settings, raising complex clinical, ethical, and emotional challenges. In Italy, where mental healthcare is grounded in a community-based model, restraint use continues to spark debate, but the perspectives of healthcare professionals involved in these decisions remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to contribute further by comparing psychiatrists' and nurses' perspectives and decision-making processes, offering valuable insights into the interplay of roles within multidisciplinary teams.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Semi-structured interviews were held with 89 professionals (64 nurses, 25 physicians). Data were analysed through open, focused, and theoretical coding. Rigour was ensured through triangulation, memo-writing, and external validation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four key themes and 16 categories were identified. Restraint decisions were primarily driven by fear of violence and the need to ensure safety, especially for nurses. While professionals emphasized alternatives, restraint was often seen as unavoidable. Physicians reported external pressures and ethical dilemmas, while nurses expressed emotional burden and moral conflict. Communication barriers and interprofessional tensions affected decision-making. Restraint was often initiated collaboratively but managed under ambiguous guidelines. Both professions emphasized better training, clearer protocols, and emotional support.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study reveals the multifaceted nature of restraint decision-making and its moral and professional implications. Findings highlight the need for systemic, cultural, and educational interventions to reduce reliance on restraint and foster more ethical, patient-centred care, offering lessons applicable across diverse international mental health systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1159-1171"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145819201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mediational Effect of Positive and Negative Affect on the Relationship Between Emotional Symptoms and Suicidal Risk.","authors":"Celia Antuña-Camblor, Gabriel Esteller-Collado, Víctor Tejedor-Hernández, Roger Muñoz-Navarro","doi":"10.1177/00207640251411743","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640251411743","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Suicide has been linked to emotional disorders which, according to the transdiagnostic model, share common constructs such as positive and negative affect. This study examined the mediating role of positive and negative affect in the relationship between emotional symptoms and suicide risk.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The sample included 1,014 participants (33.82% male, 66.17% female) aged 18 to 75 years (<i>M</i> = 33.0, <i>SD</i> = 15.15). Four independent mediation analyses were conducted, using depressive, anxious, somatization, and obsessive symptomatology (measured with the LSB-50) as independent variables; positive and negative affect (measured with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, PANAS) as mediators; and suicide risk (measured with the Risk of Suicide Scale, RS) as the dependent variable. Sociodemographic variables were controlled.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across all models, the relationship between emotional symptoms and suicide risk was positively mediated by negative affect and negatively mediated by positive affect.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Positive and negative affect function as transdiagnostic factors that partially mediate the relationship between emotional symptoms and suicide risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1239-1246"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145917531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Internalized Stigma Predicts Life Engagement in People With Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study in a Real-World Setting.","authors":"Stefano Barlati, Gabriele Nibbio, Lorenzo Bertoni, Irene Calzavara-Pinton, Donato Morena, Nicola Necchini, Stefano Paolini, Antonio Baglioni, Daniela Zardini, Laura Poddighe, Jacopo Lisoni, Giacomo Deste, Roger S McIntyre, Antonio Vita","doi":"10.1177/00207640261424408","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640261424408","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People living with schizophrenia often experience high levels of stigma and are consistently at risk of internalizing it. Internalized stigma has a negative impact on several clinical and recovery outcomes in people with schizophrenia, but the effect of internalized stigma on important patient reported outcomes that are gaining increasing scientific and clinical relevance, such as life engagement, has not yet been extensively investigated.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study aims to investigate the relationship between several different socio-demographic, clinical, functional and medication-related variables and life engagement, with the hypothesis that internalized stigma, alongside other factors, could represent an individual predictor of reduced life engagement.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ninety-four participants diagnosed with schizophrenia were included in this cross-sectional study and were investigated with validated instruments assessing life engagement, schizophrenia symptoms severity, global clinical severity, internalized stigma, psychosocial functioning, antipsychotic-related side effects, attitude toward medications, and subjective well-being. Predictors of life engagement were assessed using a stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Greater global clinical severity (β = .685, <i>p</i> < .001), fewer years of education (β = -.240, <i>p</i> < .001), and greater stigma endorsement (β = .180, <i>p</i> = .005) emerged as individual predictors of reduced patient life engagement, explaining a large proportion of the observed variance (Adjusted <i>R</i>² = .649, <i>p</i> = .001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Internalized stigma, among other well-recognized variables, appears to represent an individual predictor of worse patient life engagement in people living with schizophrenia. This finding should strengthen the notion that stigma, and internalized stigma in particular, represent important dimensions and treatment targets in the clinical management of schizophrenia, also in the perspective of improving patient-reported outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1439-1448"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147354922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Social Network Connectivity and Depression Among Single Parents in Ghana: The Mediating Role of Anxiety.","authors":"Obed Jones Owusu-Sarpong, Kabila Abass, George Dakurah, Princess Ataa Frimpomaa, Daniel Buor, Solomon Osei-Tutu, Williams Agyemang-Duah, Razak M Gyasi","doi":"10.1177/00207640251405455","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640251405455","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Scarce data exist on the association between social network connectivity (family and friends) and depression among single parents in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the mechanisms explaining the association are largely unknown. This study investigates the extent to which anxiety mediates the association between social network connectivity and depression among single parents in Ghana.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from 627 single parents were collected using a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. Social network connectivity was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 Item Version (LSNS-6), and depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). Multivariable OLS models and bootstrapping mediation analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age (SD) was 45.0 (14.7) years, and 67.3% were females. After full adjustment, social network connectivity (B = -.060, SE = .021, 95% CI = -.100 to -.019, <i>p</i> < .005) was independently associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety (B = -.166, SE = .022, 95% CI = -.209 to -.122, <i>p</i> < .001), while anxiety (B = .597, SE = .035, 95% CI = .528 to .667, <i>p</i> < .001) is associated with higher levels of depression. Moreover, the social network connectivity-depression link was mediated by anxiety (indirect effect B = -.1000, 95% bootCI = -.1302 to -.0684), yielding 71.1% of the total effect. The sex-based mediation analysis indicated that anxiety explained a larger degree in males than in females.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Anxiety mediates the association between social network connectivity and depression among single parents in Ghana. Building resilient social network connectivity may provide a safety net in dealing with psychological problems among single parents.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1198-1209"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145843786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disentangling Loneliness, Depression, and Social Media Use: A Gaussian, Mixed, and Bayesian Network Approach in the EU Loneliness Study.","authors":"Tommaso B Jannini, Rodolfo Rossi, Simone Chillemi, Giorgio Di Lorenzo, Cinzia Niolu, Alberto Siracusano","doi":"10.1177/00207640251403835","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640251403835","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Loneliness, depression, and social media use (SMU) are increasingly interconnected phenomena in modern mental health research. While prior studies have demonstrated associations between these domains, their mutual dynamics and directional relationships remain unclear. Traditional analytical approaches often treat these constructs as unitary, failing to capture the complexity of symptom-level interactions.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study aimed to disentangle the relationships between loneliness, depression, and SMU by applying advanced network modeling approaches to a large and representative European sample.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Using a large sample from the EU Loneliness Survey (<i>N</i> = 25,646), we applied Gaussian Graphical Models (GGMs), Moderated Mixed Graphical Models (MGMs), and Bayesian Network Analysis to explore the structure and potential causal pathways among loneliness, depression, and SMU symptoms. Moderation analyses tested whether gender, religiosity, income, and education influenced the network structure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Time spent on social media emerged as the most central symptom connecting loneliness and depression to SMU. Moderation analyses revealed that gender and religiosity significantly influenced specific network connections. In our sample, women exhibited stronger links between social rejection and emotional isolation, while religious individuals showed heightened associations between online engagement and problematic use. Bayesian network analysis identified a directional path from perceived lack of support to emotional disconnection, leading to depression and culminating in compensatory SMU.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings emphasize the central role of loneliness in triggering depressive symptoms and maladaptive SMU, with meaningful differences across sociodemographic groups. These insights support the development of targeted, symptom-level interventions in digital mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1148-1158"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145804466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Network Analysis of Depression Symptoms Among Adults in Peru: Insights From the 2019 to 2022 Peruvian Demographic Health Survey.","authors":"Pablo D Valencia, José Ventura-León, Daniel Fernández-Guzman, Brenda Caira-Chuquineyra, Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez","doi":"10.1177/00207640261420937","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00207640261420937","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Depression is a major public health concern, and understanding its symptom structure can improve assessment and treatment. Network analysis offers a novel approach to examine the relationships between depressive symptoms and identify core symptoms.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>this study aimed to evaluate the structure and dynamics of the depressive symptom network in the Peruvian population using network analysis methodologies and to assess its evolution across different years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study utilized data from 119,909 Peruvian adults collected between 2019 and 2022. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Network analysis was employed to examine symptom interconnections and their evolution over time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The depressive symptom network showed high stability across the 4 years, with \"feeling down, depressed, or hopeless\" (PHQ-9 item 2) consistently emerging as the most central and interconnected symptom.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The stability of the depression network and the centrality of specific symptoms suggest potential targets for interventions aimed at improving the assessment and treatment of depression in Peruvian adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1412-1425"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147321548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}