Anxiety and depression in Chinese cataract patients: a network analysis

Prior research has demonstrated that people with cataracts are more likely to experience anxiety and depression co-occurring when the condition advances to a degree that impairs vision beyond its physiological effects. According to network theory, there is a connection between the interplay of anxiety and depression and the genesis of comorbidity. Using a network viewpoint, our study examined the network properties of anxiety-depression in cataract patients to pinpoint central and bridge symptoms as well as possible intervention targets for more focused and successful therapies.

A total of 1,254 cataract patients were enrolled in our study. The Nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) were used to measure depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The R 4.3.3 software was utilized for network model building and descriptive statistics. Furthermore, we displayed a "Thoughts of death" flow network.

In the network, A5 "Restlessness"- D7 "Concentration difficulties" showed the strongest edge. A2 "Uncontrollable worry" and D2 "Depressed or sad mood" could be identified as the central symptoms. A7 "Afraid something will happen" and D7 "Concentration difficulties" could be identified as bridge symptoms. The strongest edge in the flow network was D9 "Thoughts of death"-D6 "Feeling of worthlessness".

"Uncontrollable worry", "Depressed or sad mood", "Afraid something will happen" and "Concentration difficulties" could be potential targets for the prevention of anxiety and depression in cataract patients. Furthermore, this study emphasizes how important it is to prevent suicide in cataract patients, and the symptom "Feeling of worthlessness" can be used as an effective target.