Structural relationship of brain - behavior systems and difficulty in regulation with social anxiety disorder and depression

Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders that their common characteristics is fear and excessive anxiety and subsequent behavioral disturbances. Social anxiety disorder and depression have a high comorbidity. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the formation and persistence of these diseases is very important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural relationship of brain - behavior and emotion regulation difficulties with social anxiety disorder and depression. For this purpose, in a descriptive study based on regression analysis, 240 patients (120 males and 120 females) from Tabriz University students were selected by cluster sampling method and they were tested in terms of inhibition / behavioral activation systems, emotion regulation difficulties, depression and panic and phobia. For data analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling was used. Model assessment indicated average fitness of the theoretical model. In contrast, the modified model, in which apart from direct relations, indirect relationships had been established between variables, showed a better fit. Based on the findings ofthe current study and with an emphasis on the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties we can present theoretical framework to explain the complex comorbidity and the distinction between depression and social anxiety disorder.