A Data-Driven Decomposition of Anxiety.

INTRODUCTION

The present paper identified key components of anxiety and fear based on a large community sample of 387 psychiatrically healthy or depressed participants.

METHODS

Subfactors were defined based on a principal component analysis with promax rotation and characterized via correlations with other psychiatric as well as physiological and volumetric indicators collected in this large study.

RESULTS

The key components were labeled "discomfort," "fright," "nervousness," "lack of self-confidence," and "worry." We discuss the components according to their organizational complexity, but also in terms of their affective and motivational content.

CONCLUSION

The components may be useful for future research, as they are based on three of the most-used psychiatric questionnaires assessing anxiety and fear symptoms.