title: Distinguishing symptom dimensions of depression and anxiety: an integrative approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clark and Watson developed the tripartite model in which a symptom dimension of 'negative affect' covers common psychological distress that is typically seen in anxious and depressed patients. The 'positive affect' and 'somatic arousal' dimensions cover more specific symptoms. Although the model has met much support, it does not cover all relevant anxiety symptoms and its negative affect dimension is rather unspecific. Therefore, we aimed to extend the tripartite model in order to describe more specific symptom patterns with unidimensional measurement scales.
  
  
  METHODS
  1333 outpatients provided self report data. To develop an extended factor model, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted in one part of the data (n=578). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted in the second part (n=755), to assess model-fit and comparison with other models. Rasch analyses were done to investigate the unidimensionality of the factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EFA resulted in a 6-factor model: feelings of worthlessness, fatigue, somatic arousal, anxious apprehension, phobic fear and tension. CFA in the second sample showed that a 6-factor model with a hierarchical common severity factor fits the data better than alternative 1- and 3-factor models. Rasch analyses showed that each of the factors and the total of factors can be regarded as unidimensional measurement scales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The model is based on a restricted symptom-pool: more dimensions are likely to exist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extended tripartite model describes the clinical state of patients more specifically. This is relevant for both clinical practice and research.
authors: Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden, The Netherlands. m.e.den_hollander@lumc.nl
authors: Margien E
authors: ME
authors: den Hollander-Gijsman
authors: Klaas J
authors: KJ
authors: Wardenaar
authors: Edwin
authors: E
authors: de Beurs
authors: Nic J A
authors: NJ
authors: van der Wee
authors: Ab
authors: A
authors: Mooijaart
authors: Stef
authors: S
authors: van Buuren
authors: Frans G
authors: FG
authors: Zitman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult