STRUCTURAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DIMENSIONS OF THE DSM-IV ANXIETY AND MOOD DISORDERS AND DIMENSIONS OF NEGATIVE AFFECT, POSITIVE AFFECT, AND AUTONOMIC AROUSAL

Using outpatients with anxiety and mood disorders (N = 350), the autho rs tested several models of the structural relationships of dimensions of key features of selected emotional disorders and dimensions of the tripartite model of anxiety and depression. Results supported the dis criminant validity of the 5 symptom domains examined (mood disorders; generalized anxiety disorder, GAD; panic disorder; obsessive-compulsiv e disorder; social phobia). Of various structural models evaluated, th e best fitting involved a structure consistent with the tripartite mod el (e.g., the higher order factors, negative affect and positive affec t, influenced emotional disorder factors in the expected manner). The latent factor, GAD, influenced the latent factor, autonomic arousal, i n a direction consistent with recent laboratory findings (autonomic su ppression); Findings are discussed in the context of the growing liter ature on higher order trait dimensions (e.g., negative affect) that ma y be of considerable importance to the understanding of the pathogenes is, course, and co-occurrence of emotional disorders.