Cited by 880Mental Health Research TopicsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPersonality Disorders and Psychopathology

The network approach to psychopathology: a review of the literature 2008–2018 and an agenda for future research

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Robinaugh, Donald J., Hoekstra, Ria H. A., Toner, Emma R., Borsboom, Denny·2020·Psychological Medicine

Abstract

The network approach to psychopathology posits that mental disorders can be conceptualized and studied as causal systems of mutually reinforcing symptoms. This approach, first posited in 2008, has grown substantially over the past decade and is now a full-fledged area of psychiatric research. In this article, we provide an overview and critical analysis of 363 articles produced in the first decade of this research program, with a focus on key theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions. In addition, we turn our attention to the next decade of the network approach and propose critical avenues for future research in each of these domains. We argue that this program of research will be best served by working toward two overarching aims: (a) the identification of robust empirical phenomena and (b) the development of formal theories that can explain those phenomena. We recommend specific steps forward within this broad framework and argue that these steps are necessary if the network approach is to develop into a progressive program of research capable of producing a cumulative body of knowledge about how specific mental disorders operate as causal systems.

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Lord FM & Novick MR (1968). Statistical theories of mental test scores. Addison-Wesley: Reading.
  2. Porter D (2015). Colonization by/in psychiatry: From over-medicalization to democratization. Journal of Ethics in Mental Health Open Volume, 1.

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Authors
Robinaugh, D. J., Hoekstra, R. H. A., Toner, E. R., & Borsboom, D.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of Amsterdam (NL)
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Robinaugh, Donald J.
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Published
2019-12-26
Volume
50
Issue
3
Pages
353-366
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
OpenAlex
W2998636967
Cited by
861
References
190
Citations by year
2026: 202 · 2025: 162 · 2024: 128 · 2023: 104 · 2022: 98 · 2021: 125 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 1
FWCI
9.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (406.18.532)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH113805)
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
mental illness, symptom networks
MeSH terms
Mental Disorders, Humans, Models, Psychological, Psychopathology, Research

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