Feasibility and Utility of Idiographic Models in the Clinic: A Pilot Study
Open accessAbstract
Idiographic, or individual-level, methodology has been touted for its potential clinical utility. Empirically modeling relationships between symptoms for a single individual may offer both the client and therapist information that is useful for case conceptualization and treatment planning. However, few studies have investigated the feasibility and utility of integrating idiographic models in a clinical setting. Clients (n = 12) completed ecological momentary assessment regarding psychological symptoms five times per day for three weeks. Clients also generated predictions about the associative and directed relationships in their networks. Graphical vector autoregression was used to generate contemporaneous and directed networks from each client’s data, and both clients and therapists completed self-report questionnaires regarding the feasibility and utility of these methods. Results indicated that the idiographic model structures varied widely across participants and differed markedly from the client’s own predictions. Clients found the models useful, whereas their therapists demonstrated a more tempered response. These results echo previous findings suggesting that clients are willing to complete intensive data collection and are interested in the output, whereas therapists may be less open to idiographic methods. We provide recommendations for future implementation of personalized models in clinical settings.
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Proof-of-principle studies applying person-specific networks have made different choices in creating them.
“This is illustrated by the fact that proof-of-principle studies applying PSNs have made different choices in creating PSNs [24–27].”
From Using person-specific networks in psychotherapy: challenges, limitations, and how we could use them anyway (2020) · cites this paper as [26]
There are findings that therapists report doubts on whether person-specific networks can provide new information.
“However, there are also findings that therapists report doubts on whether PSNs can provide new information [26, 28].”
From Using person-specific networks in psychotherapy: challenges, limitations, and how we could use them anyway (2020) · cites this paper as [26]
Initial case studies have shown that person-specific networks were feasible, well-received by patients, and provided clinically relevant information.
“Several initial case studies, which collected data through ESM and created PSNs for individual patients, have shown that PSNs were feasible, well-received by patients, and provided clinically relevant information [24–27].”
From Using person-specific networks in psychotherapy: challenges, limitations, and how we could use them anyway (2020) · cites this paper as [26]
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On the control of psychological networksPreprint
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Olofsson, M. E., Giltay, E. J., Eielsen, H. P., Vrabel, K. R., Oddli, H. W., & Kopland, M. C. G. (2026) · Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1186/s40337-026-01579-w · Cited by 1 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Frumkin, M., Piccirillo, M., Beck, E. D., Grossman, J., & Rodebaugh, T.
- Affiliations
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- Publisher
- Center for Open Science
- Published
- 2019-11-20
- OpenAlex
- W4245969639
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3
- Type
- posted content
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- 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 › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- psychological symptoms, symptom networks, ecological momentary assessment, case formulation, treatment planning, therapist perspectives, personalized models, feasibility
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