Revisiting Gaussian Markov random fields and Bayesian disease mapping

We revisit several conditionally formulated Gaussian Markov random fields, known as the intrinsic conditional autoregressive model, the proper conditional autoregressive model, and the Leroux et al. conditional autoregressive model, as well as convolution models such as the well known Besag, York and Mollie model, its (adaptive) re-parameterization, and its scaled alternatives, for their roles of modelling underlying spatial risks in Bayesian disease mapping. Analytic and simulation studies, with graphic visualizations, and disease mapping case studies, present insights and critique on these models for their nature and capacities in characterizing spatial dependencies, local influences, and spatial covariance and correlation functions, and in facilitating stabilized and efficient posterior risk prediction and inference. It is illustrated that these models are Gaussian (Markov) random fields of different spatial dependence, local influence, and (covariance) correlation functions and can play different and complementary roles in Bayesian disease mapping applications.