Mental disorders as networks: some cautionary reflections on a promising approach

Excerpt

Fried and colleagues [6] provided a clear overview regarding the theoretical background of the network perspective to psychopathology and empirical studies that use network techniques in the field. According to the network perspective, mental disorders arise as a result of a complex network of interacting symptoms and mental states. As summarized by Fried and colleagues [6], this perspective has gained popularity in the past years and opens new opportunities for understanding the concept and development of comorbidity and particularly for predicting the future course of symptoms. Furthermore, it has led to the hypothesis that such networks will provide insight into patient-specific psychological mechanisms underlying the development of mental disorders. The network perspective may, therefore, hold great promises for use in clinical practice [7]. For example, personal network structures could be used as an add-on diagnostic tool, which may optimize personalized targets for intervention. In short, the network perspective has helped the field to become aware of novel scientific approaches and tools and is stimulating a philosophical discussion on the matter of psychopathology: what is it and what should we look for in the search for the smallest elements that contribute to the development of psychopathology. …