title: Symptoms as latent variables.
abstract: In the target article, Cramer et al. suggest that diagnostic classification is improved by modeling the relationship between manifest variables (i.e., symptoms) rather than modeling unobservable latent variables (i.e., diagnostic categories such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder). This commentary discusses whether symptoms represent manifest or latent variables and the implications of this distinction for diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neural Injury and Repair, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201, USA. mcfarlan@wadsworth.org
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: Loretta S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Malta
mesh_terms: D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis