Objective:

To explore the interaction mechanisms at the symptom level between PTSD and depression among college students, emphasizing the importance of these interactions for effective interventions.

Key Findings:

• Central symptoms identified include nervousness/exaggerated startle response (EI = 1.38), involuntary recall (EI = 1.33), and difficulty concentrating (EI = 1.09).
• Bridge symptoms connecting PTSD and depression include trauma-related dreams (Bridge EI = 0.88), irritability (Bridge EI = 0.85), and intense emotional fluctuations (Bridge EI = 0.80).
• The network demonstrated good stability with a CS-coefficient of 0.75.

Interpretation:

Central symptoms are crucial for understanding the comorbidity between PTSD and depression, while bridge symptoms highlight key areas for intervention, suggesting targeted strategies for clinical practice.

Limitations:

• The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences.
• The sample is from a single university, which may affect generalizability.
• Potential biases in self-reported data may influence results.

Conclusion:

Interventions should prioritize central and bridge symptoms to enhance treatment efficacy and disrupt symptom connectivity between PTSD and depression.