BACKGROUND: In order to investigate whether correlated but separable symptom dimensions that have been identified in clinical samples also have a distribution in the general population, the underlying structure of symptoms of depression, mania and psychosis was studied in a general population sample of 7072 individuals. METHOD: Data were obtained from the three measurements of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS). Symptoms of depression, mania and the positive symptoms of psychosis were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Confirmatory factor-analysis was used to test statistically the fit of hypothesized models of one, two, three or seven dimensions. RESULTS: The seven-dimensional model comprising core depression, sleep problems, suicidal thoughts, mania, paranoid delusions, first-rank delusions and hallucinations fitted the data best, whereas the unidimensional model obtained the poorest fit. This pattern of results could be replicated at both follow-up measurements. The results were similar for the subsamples with and without a lifetime DSM-III-R diagnosis. The seven dimensions were moderately to strongly correlated, with correlations ranging from 0.18 to 0.73 (mean 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: In the general population, seven correlated but separable dimensions of experiences exist that resemble dimensions of psychopathology seen in clinical samples with severe mental illness. The substantial correlations between these dimensions in clinical and non-clinical samples may suggest that there is aetiological overlap between the different dimensions regardless of level of severity and diagnosable disorder.
BACKGROUND: In order to investigate whether correlated but separable symptom dimensions that have been identified in clinical samples also have a distribution in the general population, the underlying structure of symptoms of depression, mania and psychosis was studied in a general population sample of 7072 individuals. METHOD: Data were obtained from the three measurements of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS). Symptoms of depression, mania and the positive symptoms of psychosis were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Confirmatory factor-analysis was used to test statistically the fit of hypothesized models of one, two, three or seven dimensions. RESULTS: The seven-dimensional model comprising core depression, sleep problems, suicidal thoughts, mania, paranoid delusions, first-rank delusions and hallucinations fitted the data best, whereas the unidimensional model obtained the poorest fit. This pattern of results could be replicated at both follow-up measurements. The results were similar for the subsamples with and without a lifetime DSM-III-R diagnosis. The seven dimensions were moderately to strongly correlated, with correlations ranging from 0.18 to 0.73 (mean 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: In the general population, seven correlated but separable dimensions of experiences exist that resemble dimensions of psychopathology seen in clinical samples with severe mental illness. The substantial correlations between these dimensions in clinical and non-clinical samples may suggest that there is aetiological overlap between the different dimensions regardless of level of severity and diagnosable disorder.
Authors: Nil Kaymaz; Lydia Krabbendam; Ron de Graaf; Willem Nolen; Margreet Ten Have; Jim van Os Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2006-07-03 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Martine van Nierop; Tineke Lataster; Feikje Smeets; Nicole Gunther; Catherine van Zelst; Ron de Graaf; Margreet ten Have; Saskia van Dorsselaer; Maarten Bak; Inez Myin-Germeys; Wolfgang Viechtbauer; Jim van Os; Ruud van Winkel Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Elizabeth Kuipers; Philippa Garety; David Fowler; Daniel Freeman; Graham Dunn; Paul Bebbington Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2006-08-02 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Julia M Sheffield; Sridhar Kandala; Gregory C Burgess; Michael P Harms; Deanna M Barch Journal: Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging Date: 2016-11