The article below may contain offensive and/or incorrect content.
The network approach to psychopathology is becoming increasingly popular. The motivation for this approach is to provide a replacement for the problematic common cause perspective and the associated latent variable model, where symptoms are taken to be mere effects of a common cause (the disorder itself). The idea is that the latent variable model is plausible for medical diseases, but unrealistic for mental disorders, which should rather be conceptualized as networks of directly interacting symptoms. We argue that this rationale for the network approach is misguided. Latent variable (or common cause) models are not inherently problematic, and there is not even a clear boundary where network models end and latent variable (or common cause) models begin. We also argue that focusing on this contrast has led to an unrealistic view of testing and finding support for the network approach, as well as an oversimplified picture of the relationship between medical diseases and mental disorders. As an alternative, we point out more essential contrasts, such as the contrast between dynamic and static modeling approaches that can provide a better framework for conceptualizing mental disorders. Finally, we discuss several topics and open problems that need to be addressed in order to make the network approach more concrete and to move the field of psychological network research forward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)





Departments
Authors
Libraries
Current Articles
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » NIMH Director’s Statement: Our Commitment to Ending Structural Racism in Biomedical Research
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders with NIMH Grantee Dr. Cynthia Bulik
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Scientific Meeting » NIMH Livestream Event: Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders with NIMH Grantee Dr. Cynthia Bulik
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » New Experiences Enhance Learning by Resetting Key Brain Circuit
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Blog Post » From Brain Mechanisms to Novel Therapies: Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » GREAT: Helpful Practices to Manage Stress and Anxiety
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » What are the different types of clinical research?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Blog Post » Enhancing and maintaining a culture of inclusive excellence: The NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: The snowy countries losing their identity
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » Study Identifies Risk Factors for Elevated Anxiety in Young Adults During COVID-19 Pandemic
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Keep paying attention to your kids' mental health in this pandemic
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » What is Clinical Research?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » What is an MRI?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » What is a blood draw?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » Gene Readouts Contribute To Distinctness of Mental Disorders
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » Adaptive screener may help identify youth at risk of suicide
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: How conspiracy theories undermine people’s trust in COVID-19 vaccines
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Curing PTSD with a shot: The new treatments that are changing lives
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Feeling disconnected from your partner?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Concept Clearance » Deciphering Neuroimmune Dysfunction in HIV Utilizing Human Cell Derived in vitro and in vivo Systems