APS

2026 APS Annual Convention · 2026

Beyond Lumping: Hierarchical Psychopathology Frameworks Can Improve Classification by Embracing Splitting

Barcelona, Spain · May 2026

Participating Organizations

  • Ashley Watts
    Vanderbilt University

Abstract

The value of hierarchical accounts of psychopathology lies in the ability to exploit multiple levels of the hierarchy, but the field has largely prioritized lumping into broad dimensions over splitting into narrower ones. Here, I argue that lumping has slowed classification efforts, obscuring detection of causes, consequences, and treatment targets

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