[Network analyses: Are we moving toward a new conceptualization and treatment of mental disorder?]

In a break with categorical and dimensional approaches and thus the classical medical model, the network approach applied to psychopathology constitutes a holistic approach to mental disorders. In this approach, mental disorders are conceived as an interconnected system of symptoms in which symptoms are the cause of each other. It is suggested that the interaction between the different symptoms would result in a feedback loop that leads to the installation and maintenance of these symptoms/disorders. In addition, this approach proposes that co-morbidities are the result of symptom-symptom interactions that cross the diagnostic boundary and interact with symptoms from other psychiatric disorders. A growing number of studies have applied the network approach to elucidate causal interactions within the symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, or anxiety disorders. The overall objective of this review is to raise awareness among researchers and clinicians in psychiatry and clinical psychology of the network approach applied to psychopathology. To do this, we present the main concepts and principles of the network approach and its application in post-traumatic stress disorder. We also discuss recent criticisms of this approach and its clinical applications.