Network Neuroscience and Translational Medicine: A Case for Abandoning Case Controlled Studies of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Translational network neuroscience and models have the potential to change fundamentally our understanding of nature mental illness. Network suggests that pathology-linked systems such as emotion regulation derive from synchronized activation multiple, sometimes regionally disparate areas brain. While methods actualize this are emerging, case (e.g., those who meet criteria for a disorder) control “healthy” participants) continue dominate literature. The purpose paper is articulate why field translational should largely abandon potential. perspective articulated by using recent research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) illustrate issue in replication thus difficulty translating application. I argue heterogeneity diagnoses PTSD - just presentation meeting diagnostic combined with complexity human brain cannot be directly mapped any one individual region or even multiple regions. However, symptoms symptom sets might more reliably links patterns. Fine grained (symptom level), well-developed (psychometrically sound), continuous measures expression intensity will critical disorders like PTSD.