PTSD and Depression Symptoms Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye: A Network Analysis

Traumatic events, such as earthquakes, can lead to the onset of mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. This study aimed to investigate the symptom-level associations between PTSD and depression symptoms in earthquake survivors using network analysis. Network analysis was conducted on a sample of 978 adults affected by the earthquake that occurred in southern Türkiye on February 6, 2023. The sample included 592 women (59.6%) and 401 men (40.4%), with an age range of 18 to 67 years and a mean age of 34.82 (SD = 14.19). Data collection took place between May 6 and May 28, 2023. Participants completed the International Trauma Questionnaire and International Depression Questionnaire to measure PTSD and depression symptoms and the associations were analyzed using network analysis. Results indicated that ‘psychomotor agitation’ and ‘exaggerated startle response’ symptoms emerged as central symptoms and in contrast, suicidal thoughts showed weak associations with other symptoms, suggesting limited connectivity within the overall network. Sleep problems showed high bridge centrality, suggesting that the symptom plays a crucial role in linking the two disorders, potentially explaining pathways of comorbidity. Moreover, depressive and PTSD symptoms represent distinct diagnostic categories, yet they are interconnected through significant links, indicating the presence of two interdependent systems. The findings give novel insights into the clarify mechanisms underlying comorbidity and refine targets for interventions