Applying Network Analysis to Psychological Comorbidity and Health Behavior: Depression PTSD and Sexual Risk in Sexual Minority Men with Trauma Histories

摘要

ObjectiveHigh rates of depression and PTSD contribute to sexual risk, particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM) who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. The comorbidity between depression and PTSD and mechanisms by which they contribute to sexual risk in MSM remain unclear. This study sought to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of a novel network approach to (1) characterize symptom interconnections between depression and PTSD in MSM, (2) identify specific symptoms related to sexual risk behavior, and (3) compare symptom networks across groups at different levels of risk.