“Clinical Revolution” Driven by Psychological Network Approach: A Narrative Review in the Context of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies

Abstract

The psychological network approach theorizes that psychological constructs (e.g., mental disorders) can be understood as complex interplays (i.e., networks) between variables (e.g., individual symptoms) and offers statistical techniques to estimate such networks using empirical data. This review highlights that the psychological network approach potentially brings considerable innovations (i.e., “clinical revolution” we call here) that make practices of cognitive behavioral therapy more efficient and precise. First, we introduce unique terms used in the psychological network approach and note that both cross-sectional and longitudinal networks can be estimated. Second, we discuss that studies of symptom networks help formulating clinical cases more efficiently. Third, we discuss that network-based interventional studies potentially explore precise treatment processes of psychotherapies and individual therapeutic techniques. Finally, we discuss requirements for the use of the psychological network approach and future directions of the field.