Introducing the Causal Graph Approach to Psychopathology: An Illustration in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Resumen

Clinicians aim to discern causal relations among features of mental disorders. Yet observational data are insufficient to confirm these relations. In the present study, we describe a causal graph approach to illustrate how one can discern causal relations among features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by applying the Invariant Causal Prediction (ICP) algorithm and the Hidden Invariant Causal Prediction (HICP) algorithm, supplemented by findings from a literature review. Applying these methods to symptom severity data from four time points (before, during [twice], and after behavioral treatment) we estimated a causal graph for OCD. The resulting causal graph reveals multiple cycles between aspects of OCD that may play a role in the maintenance of the disorder. We conclude that the proposed design has great potential and could benefit clinicians with some adjustments and extensions.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

Kossakowski, J., Oudheusden, L. J. B., McNally, R. J., Riemann, B., Waldorp, L., & van der Maas, H. L. J. (2019). Introducing the Causal Graph Approach to Psychopathology: An Illustration in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/ed2v5