Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-6kn8j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-29T21:26:06.714Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Latent variables and the network perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2010

Catherine Belzung ,
Etienne Billette de Villemeur ,
Mael Lemoine  and
Vincent Camus
Catherine Belzung
Affiliation:
Université François Rabelais de Tours, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Parc Grandmont, F-37200 Tours, France. catherine.belzung@univ-tours.f lemoine@univ-tours.fr http://lemoine.ovh.org vincent.camus@univ-tours.fr INSERM 930, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ERL 3106, F-37200 Tours, France.
Etienne Billette de Villemeur
Affiliation:
Toulouse School of Economics (IDEI & GREMAQ), F-31000 Tours, France. etienne.devillemeur@TSE-fr.eu
Mael Lemoine
Affiliation:
Université François Rabelais de Tours, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Parc Grandmont, F-37200 Tours, France. catherine.belzung@univ-tours.f lemoine@univ-tours.fr http://lemoine.ovh.org vincent.camus@univ-tours.fr
Vincent Camus
Affiliation:
Université François Rabelais de Tours, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Parc Grandmont, F-37200 Tours, France. catherine.belzung@univ-tours.f lemoine@univ-tours.fr http://lemoine.ovh.org vincent.camus@univ-tours.fr INSERM 930, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ERL 3106, F-37200 Tours, France. Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire, CHRU de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We discuss the latent variables construct, particularly in regard to the following: that latent variables are considered as the sole explanatory factor of a disorder; that pragmatic concerns are ignored; and that the relationship of these variables to biological markers is not addressed. Further, we comment on the relationship between bridge symptoms and causality, and discuss the proposal in relationship to other constructs (endophenotypes, connectionist-inspired networks).

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 33 , Issue 2-3 , June 2010 , pp. 150 - 151
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Gannett, L. (1999) What's in a cause? The pragmatic dimensions of genetic explanations. Biology and Philosophy 14:349–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hasler, G., Drevets, W. C., Manji, H. K. & Charney, D. S. (2004) Discovering endophenotypes for major depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 29:1765–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hesslow, G. (1984) What is a genetic disease? On the relative importance of causes. In: Health, disease and causal explanation in medicine, ed. Nordenfelt, L. & Lindahl, B. I. B., pp. 183–93. Reidel.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kendler, K. S. (2005) Toward a philosophical structure for psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry 162:433–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mackie, J. L. (1974) The cement of the universe: A study of causation. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Magnus, D. (1992) The concept of genetic disease. In: Health, disease, and illness: Concepts in medicine, ed. Caplan, A. L., McCartney, J. J. & Sisti, D. A., pp. 233–42. Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Tanti, A. & Belzung, C. (2010) Open questions in current models of antidepressant action. British Journal of Pharmacology 159:1187–200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed