A Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) Primer for Mental Health Researchers

Abstract

Mental health research is at an important crossroads as the field seeks more reliable and valid phenotypes to study. Dimensional approaches to quantifying mental illness operate outside the confines of traditional categorical diagnoses, and they are gaining traction as a way to advance research on the causes and consequences of mental illness. The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a leading dimensional research paradigm that synthesizes decades of investigation into evidence-based dimensions of psychological disorders. This article aims to make the application of dimensional approaches in mental health research more accessible through tutorials that demonstrate how to use the HiTOP model to formulate and test research questions. Data and annotated code (written for R and Mplus software programs) for each example are included (https://osf.io/8myzw). We outline how investigators can use these ideas and tools to generate new insights in their own substantive research programs.