A Network Analysis of Depression Symptoms Among Adults in Peru: Insights From the 2019 to 2022 Peruvian Demographic Health Survey

Background: Depression is a major public health concern, and understanding its symptom structure can improve assessment and treatment. Network analysis offers a novel approach to examine the relationships between depressive symptoms and identify core symptoms. Aim: this study aimed to evaluate the structure and dynamics of the depressive symptom network in the Peruvian population using network analysis methodologies and to assess its evolution across different years. Methods: This study utilized data from 119,909 Peruvian adults collected between 2019 and 2022. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Network analysis was employed to examine symptom interconnections and their evolution over time. Results: The depressive symptom network showed high stability across the 4 years, with “feeling down, depressed, or hopeless” (PHQ-9 item 2) consistently emerging as the most central and interconnected symptom. Conclusion: The stability of the depression network and the centrality of specific symptoms suggest potential targets for interventions aimed at improving the assessment and treatment of depression in Peruvian adults.