Cognitive symptoms link anxiety and depression within a validation of the German State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA)

Background In the present study we aimed to develop a German version of State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) evaluate psychometric properties. Associations cognitive somatic anxiety with other measures anxiety, depression, stress, elucidating possible underlying functional connections, were also examined, as symptoms depression stress often overlap. Method Two samples (n1 = 301; n2 303) collected online in lab, respectively. Dynamic connections between analyzed using network approach. Psychometric analyses conducted exploratory confirmatory factor analyses. Results We replicated validated two-factorial structure STICSA translation. Network revealed trait most central node, bridging depression. exhibited highest discriminant validity distinguishing from Conclusion The role these dynamic interactions suggests an overlap that differential diagnostics should focus more on anxious than symptoms. could therefore be useful delineating differences assessment mood Additional understanding both aspects might prove therapeutic interventions.