p Factor in Psychopathology: Conceptual Foundations and Clinical Implications

Abstract

The general p factor, which was suggested approximately a decade ago in the literature, was derived from the idea that different psychiatric disorders might share a common underlying structure. The purpose of this review is to review current findings, addressing how the p factor has been conceptualized, the methods used to test it, and the criticisms leveled against it. This study adopted a narrative approach by reviewing the theoretical and empirical literature on the p factor. Researchers have tested the p factor structure using various factor analysis models and found that it consistently validates across samples, exhibits significant relationships with various risk factors, and predicts individuals' clinical course and functioning prospectively. However, the precise conceptual representation of the p factor remains controversial, and whether it reflects a true structure, a statistical byproduct, a common risk mechanism, or the outcome of disorders remains a matter of debate. Ultimately, this concept provides a functional framework for understanding the frequent coexistence of various disorders, predicting clinical course, and developing appropriate intervention programs. However, it seems that there is a need for assessment tools that will measure the p factor validly and reliably in order to develop the method of p factor studies, which are still in their infancy.

Keywords

• general p factor
• validity
• transdiagnostic approach

Psikopatolojide p Faktörü: Kavramsal Temelleri ve Klinik Yansımaları

Abstract

Yaklaşık on yıl önce önerilen genel p faktörü farklı psikiyatrik bozuklukların paylaştığı ortak temel bir yapı olabileceği fikrine dayanmaktadır. Bu derlemenin amacı, p faktörüne yönelik kavramsal temelleri, ölçme yöntemleri, klinik önemi ve eleştirileri ele alarak güncel bulguları gözden geçirmektir. Bu çalışmada, p faktörü ile ilgili kuramsal ve görgül literatür taranarak anlatısal bir yaklaşım kullanılmıştır. Araştırmacılar p faktörü yapısını çeşitli faktör analizi modellemeleri kullanarak test etmiş ve bu yapının çeşitli örneklemler arasında tutarlı şekilde doğrulandığını, çeşitli risk etmenleriyle anlamlı ilişkiler gösterdiğini ve bireylerin klinik seyrini ve işlevselliğini ileriye dönük yordadığını bulmuşlardır. Ancak, p faktörünün kavramsal olarak tam olarak neyi temsil ettiği hala tartışılmakta ve gerçek bir yapıyı mı yoksa istatistiksel bir yan ürünü mü yansıttığı veya ortak bir risk mekanizması mı yoksa bozuklukların sonucu mu olduğunu sorgulanmaya devam etmektedir. Sonuç olarak, bu kavram, çeşitli bozuklukların neden sıklıkla bir arada görüldüğünü anlamak, klinik seyri öngörmek ve uygun müdahale programlarını geliştirmek için işlevsel bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, henüz emekleme aşamasında olan p faktörü çalışmalarının yönteminin geliştirilmesi için p faktörünü geçerli ve güvenilir bir şekilde ölçecek değerlendirme araçlarına ihtiyaç olduğu görülmektedir.

Keywords

• geçerlilik
• tanılararası yaklaşım
• Genel p faktörü

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