Work

Network temperature as a metric of stability in depression symptoms across adolescence

Year: 2025

Type: article

Study design: Observational Study

Abstract: Depression is characterized by diverse symptom combinations that can be represented as dynamic networks. While previous research has focused on central symptoms for targeted interventions, less attention has been given to whole-network properties. Here we show that ‘network temperature’, a novel measure of psychological network stability, captures symptom alignment across adolescence—a critical period for depression onset. Network temperature reflects system stability, with higher values indicating less symptom alignment and greater variability. In three large longitudinal adolescent cohorts (total N = 35,901), we found that network temperature decreases across adolescence, with the steepest decline during early adolescence, particularly in males. This suggests that depression symptom networks stabilize throughout development via increased symptom alignment, potentially explaining why adolescence is a crucial period for depression onset. These findings highlight early adolescence as a key intervention window and underscore the importance of sex-specific and personalized interventions.

Source: Nature Mental Health

DOI: 10.1038/s44220-025-00415-5

Authors: Poppy Z. Grimes, Aja L. Murray, Keith Smith, Andrea G. Allegrini, Giulia G. Piazza, Henrik Larsson, Sacha Epskamp, Heather C. Whalley, Alex S. F. Kwong

Institutions: University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde, King's College London, University College London, Örebro University, Karolinska Institutet, National University of Singapore, University of Bristol, MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit

Language: English

Topic: Mental Health Research Topics

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $12,690

Funders: Wellcome Trust, UK Research and Innovation, University of Bristol, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Institute on Drug Abuse

Awards: G1569016918, G1684393010, G1793884970, Exploiting genomic approaches to identify the environmental basis of depression, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): A multi- generation, longitudinal resource focusing on life course health and well- being., G3755973507, G3987754321, G5313676757, DTP Bid Led by University of Edinburgh, G8281824583, G9000006386, G9000008241, G9000034221, G9000042425, G9000046731, G9000061868, G9000108491, G9000112882, G9000113866, G9000163168, G9000202101, G9000205938, G9000241459, G9000286149, 9/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT U MICHIGAN, 17/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT UCLA, 8/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT CHLA, 6/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT OHSU, 21/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT WUSTL, 2/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT UMB

OpenAlex ID: W4409951865

FWCI: 16.37

Cites: 53

Cited by: 17

Related to: 10