To reveal the core symptoms and subgroup heterogeneity of depression in disabled middle-aged and elderly people using network analysis methods,and to provide basis for formulating precise intervention plans.

Data from the 2018 China health and retirement longitudinal study(CHARLS) were selected.A total of 10 336 middle-aged and elderly people were included as the research subjects.The structural differences in depression symptoms between the disabled and healthy groups were compared using a symptom network model.The symptom intensity characteristics among subgroups of disabled middle-aged and elderly people were deeply analyzed.

There was no significant difference in the overall strength of the depression network among disabled and healthy middle-aged and elderly people.The core symptoms were all "depressed mood","feeling troubled",and "unable to continue living".Among the symptom networks of the disabled middle-aged group,the intensity value of "unable to continue living" was the highest,while for the disabled elderly group,the most prominent symptom was "depression of mood".Compared with disabled men,the intensity value of "depression of mood" for disabled women was greater.For disabled middle-aged and elderly people with educational attainment below primary school,the intensity value of "depression of mood" was the highest,while for those with educational attainment at or above primary school,the most prominent symptoms were "feeling troubled" and "unable to continue living".For married and cohabiting disabled middle-aged and elderly people,the main symptoms were "depression of mood","feeling troubled" and "unable to continue living",while for other disabled elderly people,the main symptoms were "depression of mood", "feeling troubled" and "lack of happiness".

The core symptoms of depression in disabled elderly individuals exhibit heterogeneity characteristics related to age,gender,educational level,and marital status.It is suggested that in clinical practice,individual differences of disabled middle-aged and elderly individuals should be fully considered.Categorized interventions should be adopted to improve their mental health levels.