Computational Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Network (ccpp.network): Formal models and empirically informed simulations of the formation, maintenance and change of psychopathology

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stefan Westermann
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 537600724

Understanding the underlying psychological mechanisms of the formation, maintenance, and change of psychopathology is at the core of clinical psychology and psychotherapy research. Building upon verbal theorizing and empirical research, these disciplines have substantially contributed to the availability of evidence-based treatments for people with mental disorders. However, the success of translational research in developing and optimizing psychological interventions critically depends on the models of the underlying mechanisms of psychopathology that are to be translated. Recently, the state-of-the-art approach to express theoretical models in clinical psychology—verbal theorizing—has been increasingly challenged. Consequently, novel ways of theorizing are called for that overcome the shortcomings of verbal theorizing. More precise and better falsifiable theorizing — by means of formal modeling — is expected to help to formulate models that can be translated into more effective psychological interventions. Despite the growing number of calls to employ formal modeling approaches in psychology research including clinical psychology and psychotherapy, they “remain an underused tool for theory development in psychological sciences”. The overarching goal of the proposed computational clinical psychology and psychotherapy network (ccpp.network) is to facilitate translational clinical science by establishing methods of formal modeling in our disciplines. We want to achieve this as an interdisciplinary scientific network that brings together expertise from (1) basic clinical psychology research, (2) psychotherapy research of different theoretical orientations (behavioral, psychodynamic and systemic), and (3) modeling in neighboring sciences (computational social science, computational psychiatry, theoretical biology). The proposed network consists of a total of 20 members with many early career researchers (60%) and also international researchers (CH, USA, UK) to promote national and international networking between researchers at an early stage of their careers. Eight of the members have a primary background in computational modeling (40%) and 12 have a primary background in clinical psychology and psychotherapy research (60%). The members come from 17 different universities which is helpful to disseminate the network’s outcomes to many sites. Six research meetings with specific milestones over a period of three years are planned. Between and during the meetings, network members have access to an online collaboration platform to continue their work and their communication. The network goes beyond the exchange of knowledge and skills by including “hackathons” during which the members collaboratively implement prototypes of formal models. By paving the way for formal models of psychopathology and psychotherapy, the ccpp.network will also facilitate Open Theory as an important aspect of Open Science.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Sven Banisch