Path Asymmetry in Complex Dynamical Systems of Psychopathology

To advance our understanding, prediction, and treatment of psychopathology, researchers have recently suggested a paradigm shift towards dynamical systems theory for conceptualizing mental health and illness. Importantly, in dynamical systems, the pathways into states (e.g., mental illness) are rarely the same as pathways out. Yet, current theories of psychopathology implicitly assume path symmetry: they almost exclusively outline paths towards mental illness, but rarely (if ever) describe resilience or recovery paths towards health. In this Viewpoint, we illustrate how this striking assumption of path symmetry is misaligned with complex dynamical systems, restricts the scope of research, and limits our understanding and treatment of mental disorders. We call for observational, conceptual, formal theoretical, and experimental investigations of successful transitions out of psychopathology to advance the science of mental health and illness as complex dynamical systems.