Quantitative models of psychopathology and computational psychiatry are two distinct approaches that have generated optimism about advancing mental health research. Among quantitative models, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) has improved clinical description by organizing psychopathology according to patterns of symptom covariation. In parallel, computational psychiatry seeks to identify the neurocognitive processes that might explain psychopathology and impact clinical and functional outcomes.
In this Perspective, we highlight points of convergence and complementarity between HiTOP and computational psychiatry and argue for a closer integration. Specifically, we propose that HiTOP provides an empirically grounded model of psychopathology that improves the specificity and validity of modern computational findings, whereas computational psychiatry helps to explain how HiTOP dimensions relate to underlying neurocognitive processes. We conclude by considering barriers to integration, such as limited cross-field collaboration, challenges posed by multimodal data and unresolved questions about how computational and biological measures should inform the future development of the HiTOP model.
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