Network psychometrics and the network approach to posttraumatic stress disorder: A conceptual and methodological overview

Abstract

The network approach to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has rapidly developed in recent years, driven by a growing number of empirical studies employing psychometric network analyses to investigate the structure of associations among PTSD symptoms. In this paper, we provide an overview of network psychometrics and consider the role of these analyses within the network approach to PTSD. Adopting a recently proposed workflow for conducting network psychometric analyses, we identify and address issues that researchers using network psychometrics to study PTSD are likely to confront. We conclude with a consideration of work beyond network psychometrics that will be critical in translating the growing body of empirical network studies into meaningful advances in the field's understanding of the causal systems underlying PTSD.