Measuring Psychopathology in Daily Life

Conceptualization and assessment of psychopathology is shifting away from discrete diagnoses to basic dimensions and processes. However, this transition is mostly supported cross-sectional research, focusing on between-person differences despite psychopathological processes being conceptualized at the within-person level. This lack of within-person research complicates efforts to conceptualize psychopathology as a complex system of interacting domains. We developed a broad inventory of psychopathology suitable for studying within-person processes in daily life and between-person differences in those processes. We evaluated the within- and between-person, hierarchical structure of 27 psychopathology constructs and their correlates in a sample (Person N=300) of mixed community and outpatient participants who provided daily ratings (Mean Day N=12.9). Results supported within- and between-person structures representing key domains of psychopathology (Internalizing, Detachment, Antagonism, Disinhibition, and Anankastia). The inventory (in long and brief formats) appears suitable for studying psychopathology in intensive longitudinal studies. We make all data and code freely available (https://osf.io/su3gf/).