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. 2017 Jan;43(1):122-132.
doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw095. Epub 2016 Jul 6.

A Transdiagnostic Network Approach to Psychosis

Johanna T W Wigman  1   2 , Stijn de Vos  3 , Marieke Wichers  3 , Jim van Os  4   5 , Agna A Bartels-Velthuis  3
Affiliations

A Transdiagnostic Network Approach to Psychosis

Johanna T W Wigman et al. Schizophr Bull. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Our ability to accurately predict development and outcome of early expression of psychosis is limited. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying psychopathology, a broader, transdiagnostic approach that acknowledges the complexity of mental illness is required. The upcoming network paradigm may be fruitful here. In this study, we applied a transdiagnostic network approach to psychosis. Data pertain to the third wave (second follow-up) of a sample of adolescents originally recruited at age 7-8 years. At baseline, N = 347 children with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) and N = 347 control children were included. N = 293 of these N = 694 children participated in the second follow-up (mean age 18.9 years; 59% women). Participants completed the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). A specific type of network model, the Ising model, was applied to dichotomized CAPE and DASS items. Interconnections of experiences within the same domain were observed, as well as interconnections between experiences of multiple domains of psychopathology. Quantitative and qualitative differences in network architecture were found in networks of psychopathological experiences in individuals with or without AVH at age 7-8 years. Although adolescents with or without previous AVH did not differ in their current CAPE scores, differences in the interconnectedness of psychopathology items were still found, possibly mirroring a difference in psychosis liability. This study showed that it is possible to map transdiagnostic experiences of psychopathology as a network and that important information can be derived from this approach in comparison to regular approaches.

Keywords: CAPE; DASS; network analysis; psychosis; transdiagnostic.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Representation of network model of Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) items.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Strength and betweenness of nodes per subscale.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Grouping of Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) items in communities.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Log-log plot of node strengths.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Networks of Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) items for individuals with/without auditory verbal hallucinations at age 7–8 years.
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