TD2021 Validation of Hierarchical Taxonomic Models in a Clinical Sample - Holly F. Levin-Aspenson

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Transdiagnostic Approaches to Mental Health Conference 2021
Validation of Hierarchical Taxonomic Models in a Clinical Sample
Holly F. Levin-Aspenson; Mark Zimmerman
Department of Psychology and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, USA
Quantitatively derived dimensional models of psychopathology enjoy overwhelming empirical support, and a large and active community of psychopathology researchers has been establishing an empirically based dimensional hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology (or HiTOP) as a strong candidate replacement for the current categorical classification system. The hierarchical nature of this taxonomy implies that different levels of specificity are likely to be optimal for different research and clinical purposes. Our chief aim was to identify which level of resolution is likely to provide optimal validity and explanatory power with regard to relevant clinical variables. Using data from a sample of 2,900 psychiatric outpatients, we compared different levels from bass-ackwards analysis in relation to psychosocial impairment across different domains. Results suggest that most indices of functioning (e.g., GAF, inability to work) are best explained by lower levels comprising several narrower dimensions (e.g., Somatoform, Internalizing, Compulsivity, Detachment, Thought Disorder, Antagonism, and Disinhibition at level seven). These findings can be used to guide HiTOP-consistent assessment in other research and clinical settings.