The descriptive epidemiology of internalizing and externalizing psychiatric dimensions

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Comorbidity in mental disorders is increasingly understood through overarching dimensions: internalization (distress, fear) and externalization.
• Existing research highlights the significance of these broad psychiatric dimensions in explaining co-occurring mental health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the descriptive epidemiology of the internalization (distress, fear) and externalization psychiatric dimensions.
• To examine the relationships between these core psychiatric dimensions and various demographic, physical health, and personality factors.

Main Methods:

• Principal components analysis was used to derive continuous measures of distress, fear, and externalization from 11 common ICD-10 mental disorders.
• A large community sample (N = 10,641) was utilized for the analysis.
• Multivariate linear regression analyses assessed the associations between the three dimensions and sociodemographic, physical illness, and personality disorder characteristics.

Main Results:

• The distress dimension exhibited a stronger association with disadvantageous sociodemographic characteristics and physical health conditions compared to the fear or externalization dimensions.
• Specific profiles emerged, particularly concerning the relationships between these dimensions and personality disorders, indicating distinct patterns of association.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the utility of focusing on continuous psychiatric dimensions underlying mental disorders.
• Increased emphasis on these transdiagnostic dimensions is recommended for a more comprehensive understanding and potential treatment of mental health conditions.