[Network clusters of symptoms as elementary syndromes of psychopathology: implications for clinical practice].

Background: In a recent publication we reported the existence of around 11 (to 15) 'elementary syndromes' that may combine in various ways, rather like 'building blocks', to explain the wide range of psychiatric symptoms. 'Bridge symptoms' seem to be responsible both for combining large sets of symptoms into elementary syndromes and for combining the various elementary syndromes to form one globally connected network structure.

Aim: To discuss the implication of these findings for clinical practice.

A network view on psychiatric disorders: network clusters of symptoms as elementary syndromes of psychopathology.

Introduction: The vast number of psychopathological syndromes that can be observed in clinical practice can be described in terms of a limited number of elementary syndromes that are differentially expressed. Previous attempts to identify elementary syndromes have shown limitations that have slowed progress in the taxonomy of psychiatric disorders.

Aim: To examine the ability of network community detection (NCD) to identify elementary syndromes of psychopathology and move beyond the limitations of current classification methods in psychiatry.

The network structure of human personality according to the NEO-PI-R: matching network community structure to factor structure.

Introduction: Human personality is described preferentially in terms of factors (dimensions) found using factor analysis. An alternative and highly related method is network analysis, which may have several advantages over factor analytic methods.

Aim: To directly compare the ability of network community detection (NCD) and principal component factor analysis (PCA) to examine modularity in multidimensional datasets such as the neuroticism-extraversion-openness personality inventory revised (NEO-PI-R).

Increased plasma norepinephrine concentration in psychotic depression.

Objective: We previously found psychotic depression (PSDEP) to have positively correlating plasma norepinephrine (NE) and vasopressin (AVP) concentrations. Since central noradrenergic activity and plasma NE concentration are highly correlated, this suggests an increased noradrenergic activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. We hypothesize the increased release of NE in PSDEP to be an associated mechanism.

An Increase of the Character Function of Self-Directedness Is Centrally Involved in Symptom Reduction during Remission from Major Depression.

Background. Studies with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in depressive disorders have shown changes (Δ) of the character of Self-Directedness (SD) and the temperament of Harm Avoidance (HA). The central question of this study is which of these two changes is most proximally related to the production of depressive symptoms.