Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis - Using Network Analysis to Explore the Associations between Psychodynamic Constructs

The Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis (OPD) system has established itself in the psychodynamic field as a supplement to descriptive classification systems for mental disorders. The OPD includes key psychodynamic constructs, namely “interpersonal relations”, “psychodynamic conflicts” and “personality structure”. The examination of the interplay among psychodynamic constructs and their associations with psychopathology holds significant relevance for both clinical and scientific practice, as it advances our understanding of how psychodynamic constructs contribute to the development and maintenance of psychopathological symptoms. A particularly useful method for estimating and visualizing associations between various constructs is network analysis. Estimated networks help to identify constructs that are most relevant to the network and are thought to represent important treatment targets. In this dissertation four empirical studies are included that used network analysis to explore the associations between the psychodynamic constructs in the OPD, their associations with psychopathology and with related constructs. The included studies provided the following main conclusions: First, personality structure was found to be the “bridge node”, linking psychodynamic constructs with psychopathology. Second, psychodynamic conflicts and personality structure were found to be distinct. Third, passive modes of conflict processing are in most conflicts more strongly associated with psychopathology than active modes. Forth, the subscales of the IPO-16 and the OPD-SQS were found to tap into distinct facets of personality functioning and are therefore both adding to a profound clinical diagnosis. Fifth, psychodynamic constructs and psychopathology were found to form distinct, albeit interconnected clusters in the networks. In sum, this dissertation increases our understanding of the psychodynamic constructs in the OPD and makes a significant contribution to both clinical and scientific practice.