For clinical translation, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) must stand on its own two feet.

Abstract

This article discusses the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a large-scale effort involving over 170 researchers to refine the classification of psychopathology. Unlike the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnostic categories, HiTOP organizes psychopathological symptoms and traits into increasingly broad dimensions based on statistical covariance patterns identified across hundreds of studies, aiming to offer a more scientifically and empirically grounded alternative to conventional nosologies. Since its introduction in 2017, HiTOP has gained significant traction in research, with its foundational publication cited over 3,200 times so far. HiTOP is designed not only as a research tool, however, but also as a framework explicitly intended for clinical application. While HiTOP's translation into routine clinical practice is still at the relatively early stages, the HiTOP Consortium has made several commendable steps toward this goal with initiatives such as the development of the HiTOP Digital Assessment Tracker, HiTOP Patient Reported Outcome (HiTOP-PRO) measure, a clinical training workshop, ongoing clinical field trials, clinical primers, and resources to support billing when using HiTOP. Overall, the researchers are optimistic about HiTOP's potential to benefit psychological and psychiatric practice, but we believe its positioning as a clinical tool can be strengthened. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).