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

7 Scopus citations

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)
Pages (from-to)	279-284
Number of pages	6
Journal	Clinical Psychological Science
Volume	10
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211049390
State	Published - Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

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

Funding Information:
The following members of Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology consortium endorsed the positions described in this commentary: Timothy Allen, Bo Bach, Michael Chmielewski, Barbara De Clercq, Anna Docherty, Andrea Fossati, Kristen Gainey, John D. Haltigan, Benjamin Hankin, Phillip Homan, Chris Hopwood, Hyunsik Kim, Holly Levin-Aspenson, Julia Longenecker, Elizabeth Martin, Leslie Morey, Brady Nelson, Jason Oliver, Christopher Patrick, Aaron Pincus, Eunyoe Ro, Michael Roche, Lauren Rutter, Liam Satchell, Martin Sellbom, Alexander Shackman, Antonella Somma, Kasey Stanton, Matthew Sunderland, Jeggan Tiego, Ashley Watts, Sylia Wilson, David Zald, and Richard Zinbarg. This work was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01-MH122537.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

Keywords

classification
diagnosis
psychopathology

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Journal Article

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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. (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

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 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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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. Funding Information: The following members of Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology consortium endorsed the positions described in this commentary: Timothy Allen, Bo Bach, Michael Chmielewski, Barbara De Clercq, Anna Docherty, Andrea Fossati, Kristen Gainey, John D. Haltigan, Benjamin Hankin, Phillip Homan, Chris Hopwood, Hyunsik Kim, Holly Levin-Aspenson, Julia Longenecker, Elizabeth Martin, Leslie Morey, Brady Nelson, Jason Oliver, Christopher Patrick, Aaron Pincus, Eunyoe Ro, Michael Roche, Lauren Rutter, Liam Satchell, Martin Sellbom, Alexander Shackman, Antonella Somma, Kasey Stanton, Matthew Sunderland, Jeggan Tiego, Ashley Watts, Sylia Wilson, David Zald, and Richard Zinbarg. This work was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01-MH122537. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2021.",

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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.

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PY - 2022/3

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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.

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

Abstract

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