Search for Topics:
Title/Keyword
Journal
Submission Status
Category
 
 
Topics
Psychopathology and Developmental Trajectories
Submit your Manuscript Submit your Abstract Propose a Topic

Topic Menu

► Topic Menu

Topic Editors

Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, Faculty of Humanistic Studies, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
Dr. Carmelo Masala
Department of Education, Philosophy and Psychology, University of Cagliari, Via Università, 40, 09124 Cagliari, CA, Italy
Prof. Dr. Stefan Bogaerts
Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 Tilburg, The Netherlands
share announcement

Psychopathology and Developmental Trajectories

Abstract submission deadline
31 October 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
31 December 2025
Viewed by
1570

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last 50 years, there has been increasing interest in the definition of psychopathology, psychological disorders, mental disorders, and distress. However, there is still a lot of work to be done, and future research is needed to address these topics, along two main different but interrelated directions: a general framework useful for understanding both continuity and discontinuity among the psychopathological features during the entire lifecycle, also taking into account individual, relational, social, and environmental protective and risk factors, and an overall approach useful for intervention and able to take into account all of the previously discussed aspects. A lifespan approach in psychopathology, focused on developmental trajectories that are focused on all of the phases of a lifecycle, rather than on specific critical steps in an individual’s life, might offer a new way to think about causation, within a complex multilevel causal model, characterized by interdependence among the different levels and by mutually reinforcing effects, operating over time. We also need a new approach to address prevention and intervention. As a part of this Topic, we invite scholars to discuss these topics and to share their experiences in these fields, with a multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary approach. We welcome research, scoping reviews, systematic reviews, and/or meta-analyses of these newer approaches in the study of psychopathology, according to the perspective of developmental trajectories.

Dr. Donatella Rita Petretto
Dr. Carmelo Masala
Prof. Dr. Stefan Bogaerts
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • developmental trajectories
  • mental disorder
  • disability
  • definitions
  • intervention
  • developmental psychopathology

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Behavioral Sciences
behavsci 		2.5 2.6 2011 28.7 Days CHF 2200 Submit
Brain Sciences
brainsci 		2.7 4.8 2011 15.6 Days CHF 2200 Submit
Geriatrics
geriatrics 		2.1 3.3 2016 23.9 Days CHF 1800 Submit

Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.

MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

  1. Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
  2. Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
  3. Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
  4. Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
  5. Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Journals
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
8 pages, 185 KiB  
Perspective
From “Mental/Psychological Disorder” and/or “Individual Pattern of Adaptation” Toward “Developmental Trajectories During the Lifespan”
by Donatella R. Petretto, Alessandro Mura, Mattia Vacca, Gian Pietro Carrogu, Luca Gaviano, Riccardo Atzori and Carmelo Masala
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050591 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2025
Viewed by 100
Abstract
A general and still open question in clinical psychology is the crucial one: “What is a psychological/mental disorder?”. In the second half of the 20th century and now, the question has been addressed along two different parallel paths/approaches: one path aimed to classify [...] Read more.
A general and still open question in clinical psychology is the crucial one: “What is a psychological/mental disorder?”. In the second half of the 20th century and now, the question has been addressed along two different parallel paths/approaches: one path aimed to classify those disorders, also thanks to the development of the international classification manuals (DSM and ICD); another path aimed to describe in what ways those “disorders” manifest themselves in the life of each individual. While the first path used explicitly the word “disorder”, the second one mainly preferred to use the words “pattern of adaptation/maladaptation”. In this brief perspective paper, we will discuss both paths and approaches, according to the perspective of clinical psychology and as a result of a narrative review. We discuss some differences between the two paths, some points of contact between them, and some critical issues. Moreover, we will briefly discuss a third integrative path that may integrate the first two. We then discussed if the third integrative path may increase the strength of both previous ones and overcome their limits, with the aim to support individual patterns of adjustment, prevent “mental/psychological disorder” and empower individuals in coping with adverse life events during all the phases of lifespan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Psychopathology and Developmental Trajectories)
9 pages, 214 KiB  
Article
A Retrospective Study of the Influence of Life Events and Social Support on Relapses and Recurrences in Older Patients with Bipolar Disorder
by Hanna Cusell and Rob Kok
Geriatrics 2025, 10(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10010016 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 865
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Life events and lack of social support are risk factors for a relapse or recurrence in patients with a bipolar disorder, yet studies focusing on older adults remain limited. Our aim was to investigate the influence of life events and social [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Life events and lack of social support are risk factors for a relapse or recurrence in patients with a bipolar disorder, yet studies focusing on older adults remain limited. Our aim was to investigate the influence of life events and social support on the course of bipolar disorder in older adults. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included patients aged 55 years and older in treatment for bipolar disorder and who used lithium. During a follow-up of maximum 5 years, relapses and recurrences, life events and six social support variables were constructed based on patients’ electronic medical files. Results: We included 100 older patients with a mean age of 68.1 (SD 8.6) years; 69% were female. At least one relapse or recurrence was observed within the 5 years of observation in 52% of our patients. Life events were noted in the medical files in 24 out of these 52 (46.2%) patients. Living alone, a lower quality of social support and having at least two children was significantly associated with the onset of a relapse or recurrence (p = 0.024, p < 0.001, p = 0.022, respectively). Conclusions: Older adults with bipolar disorder have a high rate of relapses or recurrences within 5 years of observation, and half of the relapses or recurrences were preceded by life events. Social factors may also play a significant role in the onset of relapses and recurrences. Our results underline the necessity for incorporating social and environmental factors into prevention of relapses or recurrences for older bipolar patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Psychopathology and Developmental Trajectories)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop