Journal of Capital Medical University ›› 2023, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (4): 568-577.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-7795.2023.04.011

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Network analysis of mental and physical symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Li Xue1,2, Feng Zhengtian1,2, Zheng Sisi1,2, Duan Yuhang1,2, Wu Ziyao1,2, Zhu Hong1,2*#, Jia Hongxiao1,2*#   

  1. 1.The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China; 2. Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
  • Received:2023-04-02 Online:2023-08-21 Published:2023-07-26
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by Beijing Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support （ZYLX202129），Beijing Hospitals Authority’s Ascent Plan（DFL20191901），Training Plan for High Level Public Health Technical Talents Construction Project (Discipline Backbones -02-40).

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Abstract: Objective  To explore the core mental and physical symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in the view of traditional Chinese medicine and analyze the relationship between the symptoms. Methods  We collected the clinical symptoms of 500 patients with GAD, and used network analysis method to analyze the core mental symptoms, core physical symptoms, core mental and physical symptoms, and core mental and physical symptoms in the view of traditional Chinese medicine. Results  The core mental symptoms of GAD were as follow: prone to be frightened and afraid, overthinking, early awakening, and agitation. The core physical symptoms were as follow: low back pain, chest tightness, tired and weak spirit, and bitter mouth. Studies on core mental symptoms and physical symptoms suggested that there was a strong correlation between prone to be frightened and afraid and the tired and weak spirit, overthinking and palpitations, agitation and spontaneous sweating, early awakening and low back pain. The integrated network analysis of the core mental symptoms and core physical symptoms suggested that agitation and overthinking had a greater impact on other symptoms throughout the network. Conclusions  GAD is closely related to the kidney, heart, and liver, and clinical treatment should be focused on dialectical treatment of mental symptoms.

Key words: generalized anxiety disorder, network analysis, core mental symptoms, kidney-yin deficiency

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