Cited by 1,072Mental Health Research TopicsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPersonality Disorders and Psychopathology

Can network analysis transform psychopathology?

McNally, Richard J.·2016·Behaviour Research and Therapy

Abstract

Experimental psychopathology has been the primary path to gaining causal knowledge about variables maintaining mental disorders. Yet a radically different approach to conceptualizing psychopathology promises to advance our understanding, thereby complementing traditional laboratory experiments. In contrast to viewing symptoms as reflective of underlying, latent categories or dimensions, network analysis conceptualizes symptoms as constitutive of mental disorders, not reflective of them. Disorders emerge from the causal interactions among symptoms themselves, and intervening on central symptoms in disorder networks promises to foster rapid recovery. One purpose of this article is to contrast network analysis with traditional approaches, and consider its strengths and limitations. A second purpose is to review novel computational methods that may enable researchers to discern the causal structure of disorders (e.g., Bayesian networks). I close by sketching exciting new developments in methods that have direct implications for treatment.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.brat.2016.06.006

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Authors
McNally, R. J.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
McNally, Richard J.
Venue
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-11
Volume
86
Pages
95-104
ISSN
0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2469324137
Cited by
1,072
References
95
Citations by year
2026: 140 · 2025: 181 · 2024: 147 · 2023: 139 · 2022: 129 · 2021: 95 · 2020: 87 · 2019: 73 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 5
FWCI
6.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Keywords
network analysis, psychopathology, symptom networks, Bayesian networks, computational psychiatry, symptomatic treatment, experimental psychopathology
MeSH terms
Bayes Theorem, Humans, Psychopathology, Models, Statistical, Behavioral Research

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