Risk factors for anxiety disorders: common and specific effects in a national sample.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder (MDD) often co-occur and share a broad range of risk factors. The goal of this study was to examine whether the co-occurrence of anxiety disorders and MDD could be explained by an underlying latent factor and whether the risk factors exert their effect exclusively through this factor, directly on each disorder, or through a combination of effects at both levels.

Methods

Data were drawn from a large, nationally representative sample. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to identify the latent structure of anxiety disorders. A multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) approach was used to assess the common and specific effects of risk factors for anxiety disorders.

Results

A one-factor model provided a good f

SUBMITTER: Blanco C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4147018 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature