Using network models in person-centered care in psychiatry: How perspectivism could help to draw boundaries

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the conceptual problems that arise when using network analysis in person-centered care (PCC) in psychiatry. Personalized network models are potentially helpful tools for PCC, but we argue that using them in psychiatric practice raises boundary problems, i.e., problems in demarcating what should and should not be included in the model, which may limit their ability to provide clinically-relevant knowledge. Models can have explanatory and representational boundaries, among others. We argue that perspectival reasoning can make more explicit what questions personalized network models can address in PCC, given their boundaries.