Network structure of phasic and tonic irritability in adults: A Bayesian Gaussian graphical model

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Tonic (irritable mood) and phasic (temper outbursts) irritability are distinct childhood constructs.
• Limited research exists on the relationship between these irritability types in adulthood.
• No prior studies have investigated the daily interplay of tonic and phasic irritability in adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between tonic and phasic irritability in adults' daily lives.
• To apply a Bayesian Gaussian graphical model to daily diary data for this analysis.

Main Methods:

• 122 adult participants (mean age 34.94 years, 52% female) completed daily diaries for up to 18 days.
• Data collected on tonic and phasic irritability symptoms.
• Bayesian Gaussian graphical models used to construct contemporaneous, temporal, and between-person networks.

Main Results:

• Phasic and tonic irritability were interconnected in contemporaneous and temporal networks but distinct in between-person networks.
• Phasic irritability symptoms showed the greatest importance and influence across all network types.
• Tonic irritability symptoms effectively bridged the two irritability subnetworks.
• Phasic irritability symptoms appear more responsive to interventions.
• Tonic irritability demonstrated strong associations with daily functional impairment.

Conclusions:

• Tonic and phasic irritability symptoms exhibit unique associations in adults' daily lives.
• Further research is warranted to explore the differential potential of these symptoms for targeted interventions.