Answering Questions About the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): Analogies to Whales and Sharks Miss the Boat

Colin G. DeYoung; Roman Kotov; Robert 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 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

Psychology (Twin Cities)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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 (US)
Journal	Clinical Psychological Science
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211049390
State	Accepted/In press - 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01-MH122537.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

Keywords

classification
diagnosis
psychopathology

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10.1177/21677026211049390

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DeYoung, C. G., Kotov, R., Krueger, R., 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. (Accepted/In press). Answering Questions About the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): Analogies to Whales and Sharks Miss the Boat. Clinical Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211049390

Answering Questions About the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) : Analogies to Whales and Sharks Miss the Boat. / DeYoung, Colin G.; Kotov, Roman; Krueger, Robert; Cicero, David C.; Conway, Christopher C.; Eaton, Nicholas R.; Forbes, Miriam K.; Hallquist, Michael N.; Jonas, Katherine G.; Latzman, Robert D.; Rodriguez-Seijas, Craig; Ruggero, Camilo J.; Simms, Leonard J.; Waldman, Irwin D.; Waszczuk, Monika A.; Widiger, Thomas A.; Wright, Aidan G.C.

In: Clinical Psychological Science, 2021.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

DeYoung, CG, Kotov, R, Krueger, R, 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 2021, 'Answering Questions About the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): Analogies to Whales and Sharks Miss the Boat', Clinical Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211049390

DeYoung, Colin G. ; Kotov, Roman ; Krueger, Robert ; Cicero, David C. ; Conway, Christopher C. ; Eaton, Nicholas R. ; Forbes, Miriam K. ; Hallquist, Michael N. ; Jonas, Katherine G. ; Latzman, Robert D. ; Rodriguez-Seijas, Craig ; Ruggero, Camilo J. ; Simms, Leonard J. ; Waldman, Irwin D. ; Waszczuk, Monika A. ; Widiger, Thomas A. ; Wright, Aidan G.C. / Answering Questions About the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) : Analogies to Whales and Sharks Miss the Boat. In: Clinical Psychological Science. 2021.

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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{\textquoteright}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.{\textquoteright}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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note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01-MH122537. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2021.",

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doi = "10.1177/21677026211049390",

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AU - Rodriguez-Seijas, Craig

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AU - Simms, Leonard J.

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AU - Widiger, Thomas A.

AU - Wright, Aidan G.C.

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Answering Questions About the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): Analogies to Whales and Sharks Miss the Boat

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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