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Preclinical psychiatric symptomatology and “Diagnostic Criterion” of pathological procrastination: A psychopathological connectome model
  • +8
  • Zhiyi Chen,
  • Xuerong Liu,
  • Ting Xu,
  • Wei Li,
  • Rong Zhang,
  • Yi Wu,
  • Lei Xia,
  • Hai Lan,
  • Zhenghi Feng,
  • Tingyong Feng,
  • Fuschia M. Sirois
Zhiyi Chen
Military Medical University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xuerong Liu
Military Medical University
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Ting Xu
Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health
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Wei Li
Military Medical University
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Rong Zhang
Southwest University Faculty of Psychology
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Yi Wu
Military Medical University
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Lei Xia
Military Medical University
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Hai Lan
Sichuan Normal University
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Zhenghi Feng
Military Medical University
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Tingyong Feng
Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality Ministry of Education
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Fuschia M. Sirois
Durham University Department of Psychology
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Abstract

Background Procrastination describes irrational delays of scheduled tasks despite clear awareness of adverse consequences to do so. Although procrastination is well-known to be linked to psychiatric or pathological processes, insights into why procrastination may contribute to psychopathological outcomes has not been fully explored. The aim of the current study was to identify the criterion for “pathological procrastination” and its preclinical correlates. Methods This is a longitudinal and prospective observational study with a five-year interval. Participants ( N = 464) completed measures of trait procrastination in November 2018, with a follow-up conducted in March 2023 ( N = 267) to collect preclinical psychiatric symptoms via self-reported measures. A constrained multivariate direct gradient model (cmDGM) was built to prospectively fit procrastination to the preclinical psychiatric symptomatology that formulated by DSM-5 framework. The 2-stage psychopathological connectome model was further constructed to constitute a “diagnostic criterion” reflecting “pathological procrastination”. Results Procrastination prospectively predicted severe preclinical psychiatric symptoms and unhealthy lifestyles. Preclinical bridge hubs of “failure to self-regulate delays”, “failure to control adverse consequences”, “useless to self-change”, “out-of-control irruptions”, “poor sleep quality” and “negative emotional reactions” were captured for highly local and global disruptions in the psychopathological network of procrastination, and thus constituted the 9-item pathological procrastination diagnostic criterion (3PDC) with good diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.82, p <.01). Conclusions The present study revealed the predictive rol of procrastination for preclinical psychiatric symptomatology, and further established the preclinical 3PDC to lay the foundation for the “diagnostics of pathological procrastinators” by both quantitative measurements and DSM-structured binary schemes.
26 Feb 2024Submitted to Journal of Clinical Psychology
13 Mar 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Mar 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Jun 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
27 Jun 20241st Revision Received
01 Jul 2024Submission Checks Completed
01 Jul 2024Assigned to Editor