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A novel, complex systems approach to modelling risk of psychological distress in young adolescents
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A novel, complex systems approach to modelling risk of psychological distress in young adolescents

Denise Beaudequin, Paul Schwenn, Larisa T McLoughlin, Marcella Parker, Amanda Boyes, Gabrielle Simcock, Jim Lagopoulos and Daniel F Hermens
Scientific Reports, Vol.11(1), pp.1-11
2021
PMCID: PMC8093239
PMID: 33941827
Appears in  Thompson Institute Research Collection
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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88932-yView
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Abstract

Youth mental health Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study Thompson Institute Special Collection UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages
Adolescence is a period of significant anatomical and functional brain changes, and complex interactions occur between mental health risk factors. The Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study commenced in 2018, to monitor environmental and psychosocial factors influencing mental health in 500 adolescents, for 5 years. Participants are recruited at age 12 from the community in Australia's Sunshine Coast region. In this baseline, cross-sectional study of N = 64 participants, we draw on the network perspective, conceptualising mental disorders as causal systems of interacting entities, to propose a Bayesian network (BN) model of lifestyle and psychosocial variables influencing chances of individuals being psychologically well or experiencing psychological distress. Sensitivity analysis of network priors revealed that psychological distress (Kessler-10) was most affected by eating behaviour. Unhealthy eating increased the chance of moderate psychological distress by 600%. Low social connectedness increased the chance of severe psychological disorder by 200%. Certainty for psychological wellness required 33% decrease in unhealthy eating behaviours, 11% decrease in low social connectedness, and 9% reduction in less physical activity. BN can augment clinician judgement in mental disorders as probabilistic decision support systems. The full potential of BN methodology in a complex systems approach to psychopathology has yet to be realised.

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