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Poster #M217 A NETWORK APPROACH TO THE

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF PSYCHOSIS

Article in Schizophrenia Research · April 2014

DOI: 10.1016/S0920-9964(14)70767-4

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University of Leuven Ghent University
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 A network approach
to the psychopathology of psychosis
J.T.W. Wigman1,2, J. van Os1,3, E. Thiery2, C. Derom3, N. Jacobs, Inez Myin-Germeys1, M. Wichers1
1Maastricht University, Dept of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, the Netherlands 2.University Medical Centre Groningen, Dept of Psychiatry, the Netherlands 3 King's College London, Dept of
Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, London UK 4. Ghent University, Dept of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent Belgium 5 Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, &
Dept of Human Genetics, KU Leuven Belgium 6 Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands

Background Hypotheses
Although clinically useful, categorical classification systems of 1. Connection strength and connection variability between
mental illness are not very helpful in understanding the true mental states differ in the hypothesized direction with
nature and development of psychopathology. increasing levels of psychopathology.

It has been proposed that psychopathology is better repre-
sented as a network of symptoms, where symptoms
exist per se, as causal, independent actors.
A clinical staging model predicts that in earlier stages of
illness, symptom expression is both non-specific and diffuse.
With illness progression, more specific syndromes emerge.
2. The network connectivity of mental states is increased in
individuals with mental disorder compared to network
connectivity in individuals without mental disorder.
3. Networks of mental states differ between individuals with
different types of mental disorder.

Methods
In several large samples of healthy individuals, individuals Dynamics between mental states
with depression or psychosis and their siblings, longitudinal
networks of moment-to-moment dynamics between affective
states were visualized. Different aspects of network connectivity
were explored.

The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) was used to collect

repeated measures of several momentary mental states such as
positive affect, negative affect and paranoia.

Multilevel random regression was used to calculate inter- and

intra-mental state connection strength and connection variability
over time by modelling each momentary mental state at t as a
function of all momentary states at t-1.

Results
Persistence of momentary anomalous experience was highest in
individuals with psychosis, intermediate in their siblings and
lowest in healthy controls. Persistence of momentary anomalous
experience was moderated by higher levels of negative affect,
daily stressors and childhood trauma, and by lower levels of
positive affect.

Mental states impacted dynamically on each other over time in

Submitted:
Exploring the underlying structure of mental disorders:
cross-diagnostic differences and similarities from a network
perspective using both a top-down and a bottom-up approach
healthy controls, in interaction with SCL severity. Thus, increasing
SCL-90 severity was characterized by progressively greater inter-
and intra-symptom connection strength, and greater inter- and
intra-symptom connection variability.
Networks of mental states of healthy individuals, individuals with
psychosis and individuals with depression partly overlapped, and
partly showed qualitative as well as quantitative differences.

Conclusions
A network approach to mental disorder may prove valuable to complement current diagnostic practice and may help
us to better understand both phenomenology and development of psychopathology. These studies represent first
explorations of the network approach to mental state connectivity in the field of psychopathology.

Contact J.T.W.Wigman@umcg.nl
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