Using language in social media posts to study the network dynamics of depression longitudinally

Network theory of mental illness posits that causal interactions between symptoms give rise to mental health disorders. Increasing evidence suggests that depression network connectivity may be a risk factor for transitioning and sustaining a depressive state. This study analyzed social media (Twitter) data from 946 participants who retrospectively self-reported the dates of any depressive episodes in the past 12 months and current depressive symptom severity. Personalized, within-subject networks were constructed based on depression-related linguistic features. The study found an association between current depression severity and 8 out of 9 text features examined. Individuals with greater depression severity had higher overall network connectivity. Within-subject changes in overall network connectivity were observed associated with the dates of a self-reported depressive episode. The connectivity within personalized networks of depression-associated linguistic features may change dynamically with changes in current depression symptoms.

Sean W. Kelley, Claire M. Gillan