Implications of the Network Theory for the Treatment of Mental Disorders

• DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2823
• Publication Date: 2023-08-23T11:37:18Z
• Authors: Lea Schumacher; Jan Philipp Klein; Moritz Elsaesser; Martin Härter; Martin Hautzinger; Elisabeth Schramm; Levente Kriston
• Keywords: Depression; Odds

Importance Conceptualizing mental disorders as latent entities has been challenged by the network theory of disorders, which states that psychological problems are constituted a mutually interacting symptoms. While implications approach for planning and evaluating treatments have intensively discussed, empirical support claims regarding treatment effects is lacking. Objective To assess extent to specific hypotheses derived from (interindividual) changeability symptom dynamics in response align with data. Design, Setting, Participants This secondary analysis entails data multisite randomized clinical trial, 254 patients chronic depression reported on their depressive symptoms at every session. Data collection was conducted between March 5, 2010, October 14, 2013, this November 1, 2021, May 31, 2022. Intervention Thirty-two sessions either disorder-specific or nonspecific psychotherapy depression. Main Outcomes Measures Longitudinal associations each other change these through estimated time-varying longitudinal model. Results In sample participants (166 [65.4%] women; mean [SD] age, 44.9 [11.9] years), interactions changed treatment, varied across individuals. The absolute (ie, valence-ignorant) strength (logarithmic odds ratio scale) increased 0.40 (95% CI, 0.36-0.44) 0.60 0.52-0.70) during 0.56 0.48-0.64) psychotherapy. contrast, raw valence-sensitive) decreased 0.32 0.28-0.36) 0.26 0.20-0.32) 0.09 0.02-0.16), respectively. Changing severity could be explained large interactions. Conclusions Relevance These findings suggest treatment-related well networks measures aim expected give further insights into working mechanisms health treatments, leading improvement current development new treatments. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00970437