Computational Behavioral Modeling in Precision Psychiatry

Dear Colleagues,

Background: Precision psychiatry aims to tailor diagnosis and treatment by accounting for individual differences in behavior, biology, and environment. As part of this movement, computational and quantitative models offer powerful tools for understanding the mechanisms underlying psychiatric conditions and informing individualized care. 

History: Recent advances in algorithmic modeling, complexity theory, and quantitative behavioral science have accelerated the development of formal models of clinically important behavior (e.g., self-injury, aggression, relapse). These models offer a principled framework for explaining how and why such behaviors emerge, persist, and change—supporting deeper mechanistic insights, individualized prediction, and the design of more effective intervention strategies. 

Aims and Scope: This Special Issue will focus on quantitative and computational approaches to modeling clinically important behavior, with particular emphasis on individual behavior patterns and trajectories—especially those that reflect how behavior is established, maintained, and modified over time. We are especially interested in frameworks that incorporate principles of optimization, complexity, or algorithmic explanation to model the development, maintenance, and explanation of why we observe variable behavior across individuals and contexts. We also welcome the submission of quantitative studies focused on transdiagnostic behavioral variables, particularly those that aim to elucidate underlying dysfunctional (or even adaptive) learning processes and inform clinical decision-making.

Cutting-Edge Research: We are particularly interested in research that advances behavioral modeling through quantitative and computational approaches, including—but not limited to—algorithmic modeling, information theory, complexity-based frameworks, and nature-inspired algorithms. Contributions that leverage these methods to uncover mechanistic insights, characterize behavioral phenotypes, or generate individualized predictions with clinical relevance are especially encouraged. We also welcome novel conceptual frameworks and methodological innovations that bridge behavioral science, clinical practice, and computational theory. 

What Kind of Papers We Are Soliciting: We welcome empirical, theoretical, and computational papers, as well as translational work that addresses, models, or seeks to uncover the mechanisms of clinically relevant behavior through quantitative and computational frameworks. Computational papers may include the development or application of formal quantitative models of behavior that capture core behavioral processes (e.g., choice, adaptation) and regulatory dynamics (e.g., adaptation, feedback control), with relevance to a clinically significant disorder, phenomenon (e.g., self-injury, relapse), or underlying mechanism. Submissions need not include formal modeling to be considered; we also encourage work that contributes to a principled, data-driven understanding of behavior and lays the groundwork for future modeling efforts. We are especially interested in work that enhances mechanistic insight, characterizes behavioral phenotypes, or generates individualized predictions of clinical relevance. 

Dr. John Michael Falligant
Dr. Ian Cero
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Personalized Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• computational modeling of behavior
• quantitative behavioral science
• translational psychiatry
• algorithms
• formal modeling
• psychopathology