Abstract

Objectives: This project assessed the validity of integrative hierarchical model of anxiety and dep-ression by Brown, Chorpita, and Barlow. Through this appraisal, structural relationships were assess- ed between key features of anxiety and depressive disorders and the dimensions of tripartite model of anxiety and depression.

Method: In this project, using the findings collected from 255 outpatient subjects with the diagno- sis of anxiety and depressive disorders, first, via Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Validity of five factor model of DSM-IV anxiety and depressive disorders and validity of tripartite model of anxiety and depression were assessed. Next, to select the best model, the three level structural model of Brown et al., was compared with the rival models via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

Findings: Findings supported the discriminate validity of five factor model of DSM-IV anxiety and depressive disorders and tripartite model of anxiety and depression. Amongst various struc-tural models evaluated, the best confirming  was the one in which higher order factors, the negative and positive affects influenced significantly the features of anxiety and depressive disorders in an expected manner.

Results: The discriminating hierarchical model is confirmed considering the limitations of the pre- sent study.