Answering questions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): analogies to whales and sharks miss the boat

Colin G. DeYoung; Roman Kotov; Robert F. Krueger; David C. Cicero; Christopher C. Conway; Nicholas R. Eaton; Miriam K. Forbes; Michael N. Hallquist; Katherine G. Jonas; Robert D. Latzman; Craig Rodriguez-Seijas; Camilo J. Ruggero; Leonard J. Simms; Irwin D. Waldman; Monika A. Waszczuk; Thomas A. Widiger; Aidan G. C. Wright

doi:10.1177/21677026211049390

Answering questions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): analogies to whales and sharks miss the boat

Colin G. DeYoung^*, Roman Kotov, Robert F. Krueger, David C. Cicero, Christopher C. Conway, Nicholas R. Eaton, Miriam K. Forbes, Michael N. Hallquist, Katherine G. Jonas, Robert D. Latzman, Craig Rodriguez-Seijas, Camilo J. Ruggero, Leonard J. Simms, Irwin D. Waldman, Monika A. Waszczuk, Thomas A. Widiger, Aidan G. C. Wright

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/opinion › peer-review

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Abstract

In this commentary, we discuss questions and misconceptions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) raised by Haeffel et al. We explain what the system classifies and why it is descriptive and atheoretical, and we highlight benefits and limitations of this approach. We clarify why the system is organized according to patterns of covariation or comorbidity among signs and symptoms of psychopathology, and we discuss how it is designed to be falsifiable and revised in a manner that is responsive to data. We refer to the body of evidence for HiTOP's external validity and for its scientific and clinical utility. We further describe how the system is currently used in clinics. In sum, many of Haeffel et al.'s concerns about HiTOP are unwarranted, and for those concerns that reflect real current limitations of HiTOP, our consortium is working to address them, with the aim of creating a nosology that is comprehensive and useful to both scientists and clinicians.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	279-284
Number of pages	6
Journal	Clinical Psychological Science
Volume	10
Issue number	2
Early online date	25 Oct 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211049390
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2022

Keywords

classification
diagnosis
psychopathology

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DeYoung, C. G., Kotov, R., Krueger, R. F., Cicero, D. C., Conway, C. C., Eaton, N. R., Forbes, M. K., Hallquist, M. N., Jonas, K. G., Latzman, R. D., Rodriguez-Seijas, C., Ruggero, C. J., Simms, L. J., Waldman, I. D., Waszczuk, M. A., Widiger, T. A., & Wright, A. G. C. (2022). Answering questions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): analogies to whales and sharks miss the boat. Clinical Psychological Science, 10(2), 279-284. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211049390

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title = "Answering questions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): analogies to whales and sharks miss the boat",

abstract = "In this commentary, we discuss questions and misconceptions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) raised by Haeffel et al. We explain what the system classifies and why it is descriptive and atheoretical, and we highlight benefits and limitations of this approach. We clarify why the system is organized according to patterns of covariation or comorbidity among signs and symptoms of psychopathology, and we discuss how it is designed to be falsifiable and revised in a manner that is responsive to data. We refer to the body of evidence for HiTOP's external validity and for its scientific and clinical utility. We further describe how the system is currently used in clinics. In sum, many of Haeffel et al.'s concerns about HiTOP are unwarranted, and for those concerns that reflect real current limitations of HiTOP, our consortium is working to address them, with the aim of creating a nosology that is comprehensive and useful to both scientists and clinicians.",

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author = "DeYoung, {Colin G.} and Roman Kotov and Krueger, {Robert F.} and Cicero, {David C.} and Conway, {Christopher C.} and Eaton, {Nicholas R.} and Forbes, {Miriam K.} and Hallquist, {Michael N.} and Jonas, {Katherine G.} and Latzman, {Robert D.} and Craig Rodriguez-Seijas and Ruggero, {Camilo J.} and Simms, {Leonard J.} and Waldman, {Irwin D.} and Waszczuk, {Monika A.} and Widiger, {Thomas A.} and Wright, {Aidan G. C.}",

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DeYoung, CG, Kotov, R, Krueger, RF, Cicero, DC, Conway, CC, Eaton, NR, Forbes, MK, Hallquist, MN, Jonas, KG, Latzman, RD, Rodriguez-Seijas, C, Ruggero, CJ, Simms, LJ, Waldman, ID, Waszczuk, MA, Widiger, TA & Wright, AGC 2022, 'Answering questions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): analogies to whales and sharks miss the boat', Clinical Psychological Science, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 279-284. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211049390

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T1 - Answering questions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP)

T2 - analogies to whales and sharks miss the boat

AU - DeYoung, Colin G.

AU - Kotov, Roman

AU - Krueger, Robert F.

AU - Cicero, David C.

AU - Conway, Christopher C.

AU - Eaton, Nicholas R.

AU - Forbes, Miriam K.

AU - Hallquist, Michael N.

AU - Jonas, Katherine G.

AU - Latzman, Robert D.

AU - Rodriguez-Seijas, Craig

AU - Ruggero, Camilo J.

AU - Simms, Leonard J.

AU - Waldman, Irwin D.

AU - Waszczuk, Monika A.

AU - Widiger, Thomas A.

AU - Wright, Aidan G. C.

PY - 2022/3/1

Y1 - 2022/3/1

N2 - In this commentary, we discuss questions and misconceptions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) raised by Haeffel et al. We explain what the system classifies and why it is descriptive and atheoretical, and we highlight benefits and limitations of this approach. We clarify why the system is organized according to patterns of covariation or comorbidity among signs and symptoms of psychopathology, and we discuss how it is designed to be falsifiable and revised in a manner that is responsive to data. We refer to the body of evidence for HiTOP's external validity and for its scientific and clinical utility. We further describe how the system is currently used in clinics. In sum, many of Haeffel et al.'s concerns about HiTOP are unwarranted, and for those concerns that reflect real current limitations of HiTOP, our consortium is working to address them, with the aim of creating a nosology that is comprehensive and useful to both scientists and clinicians.

AB - In this commentary, we discuss questions and misconceptions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) raised by Haeffel et al. We explain what the system classifies and why it is descriptive and atheoretical, and we highlight benefits and limitations of this approach. We clarify why the system is organized according to patterns of covariation or comorbidity among signs and symptoms of psychopathology, and we discuss how it is designed to be falsifiable and revised in a manner that is responsive to data. We refer to the body of evidence for HiTOP's external validity and for its scientific and clinical utility. We further describe how the system is currently used in clinics. In sum, many of Haeffel et al.'s concerns about HiTOP are unwarranted, and for those concerns that reflect real current limitations of HiTOP, our consortium is working to address them, with the aim of creating a nosology that is comprehensive and useful to both scientists and clinicians.

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JO - Clinical Psychological Science

JF - Clinical Psychological Science

IS - 2

ER -

Answering questions about the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): analogies to whales and sharks miss the boat

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Keywords

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