Disease network of mental disorders in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
Network medicine considers networks among genes, diseases, and individuals. Networks of mental disorders remain poorly understood, despite their high comorbidity. In this study, a network of mental disorders in Korea was constructed to offer a complementary approach to treatment.


METHODS
Data on the prevalence and morbidity of mental disorders were obtained from the 2006 and 2011 Korean Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, including 22 psychiatric disorders. Nodes in the network were disease phenotypes identified by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV, and the links connected phenotypes showing significant comorbidity. Odds ratios were used to quantify the distance between disease pairs. Network centrality was analyzed with and without weighting of the links between disorders. Degree centrality was correlated with suicidal behaviors and use of mental health services.


RESULTS
In 2011 and 2006, degree centrality was highest for major depressive disorder, followed by nicotine dependence and generalized anxiety disorder (2011) or alcohol dependence (2006). Weighted degree centrality was highest in conversion disorder in both years.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, major depressive disorder and nicotine dependence are highly connected to other mental disorders in Korea, indicating their comorbidity and possibility of shared biological mechanisms. The use of networks could enhance the understanding of mental disorders to provide effective mental health services.
Department of Psychiatry, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Dongil-ro 1342, Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Myoungje
M
Choi
Department of Psychiatry, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Dongil-ro 1342, Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Dong-Woo
DW
Lee
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Maeng Je
MJ
Cho
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Jee Eun
JE
Park
Department of Psychiatry, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Dongil-ro 1342, Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Minsoogi75@hanmail.net.
Minsook
M
Gim
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Degree centrality; Network medicine; Suicidal behaviors; Use of mental health services