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The Psycho-Periodic Cube

Authors:
Mehmet Emin Ceylan at Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Mehmet Emin Ceylan
  • Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Alper Evrensel at Üsküdar University
Alper Evrensel
Aslıhan Dönmez at Bogazici University
Aslıhan Dönmez
Barış Önen Ünsalver at Independent researcher
Barış Önen Ünsalver
  • Independent researcher
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Abstract

The current diagnostic classification systems in psychiatry have been developed primarily for evidence-based clinical decision making with both categorical and dimensional approaches having their own advantages and disadvantages. Efforts have been made to improve these classification systems, and we are now at the point where we must expand beyond the one-dimensionality of these systems. In this paper, we propose that psychiatric disorders can be arranged in a three-dimensional classification system according to the degree of dysfunctions on three specific axes in a way that is similar to the arrangement of chemical elements according to their atomic weights in Mendeleyev’s periodic table. For the three axes, we chose externalization, drive, and attention to represent the three-dimensional descriptions of mental health, namely, well-being in social, motivational, and cognitive areas, respectively. Throughout the paper, we explain our reasons for choosing these three axes and compare our hypothesis with categorical diagnostic systems as well as Cloninger’s dimensional diagnostic system using personality disorders, affective disorders, and schizophrenia as the specific diagnostic samples.
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Accepted Manuscript
The Psycho-Periodic Cube
Mehmet Emin Ceylan, Alper Evrensel, Aslıhan Dönmez, Barı ş Önen Ünsalver,
Fatma Duygu Kaya Yertutanol, Ahmet Mete Çom
PII: S0306-9877(19)30161-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2019.03.020
Reference: YMEHY 9180
To appear in: Medical Hypotheses
Received Date: 14 February 2019
Revised Date: 4 March 2019
Accepted Date: 21 March 2019
Please cite this article as: M.E. Ceylan, A. Evrensel, A. Dönmez, B.O. Ünsalver, F.D.K. Yertutanol, A.M. Çom,
The Psycho-Periodic Cube, Medical Hypotheses (2019), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2019.03.020
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THE PSYCHO-PERIODIC CUBE
Mehmet Emin CEYLAN, M.D., Ph.D.
Departments of Psychology and Philosophy, Üsküdar University, İstanbul, Turkey
Alper EVRENSEL*, M.D.
Department of Psychology, Üsküdar University, İstanbul, Turkey
Aslıhan DÖNMEZ, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Psychology, Üsküdar University, İstanbul, Turkey
Barış ÖNEN ÜNSALVER, M.D.
Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Medical Documentation and
Secretariat, Üsküdar University, İstanbul, Turkey
Fatma Duygu KAYA YERTUTANOL, M.D.
Department of Psychology, Üsküdar University, İstanbul, Turkey
Ahmet Mete ÇOM
Freelance Developer
*: Corresponding author
Dr. Alper Evrensel
Address: Uskudar University, NP Brain Hospital, Saray Mah, Ahmet Tevfik İleri Cad. No:18
Ümraniye, İstanbul, Turkey.
Tel: 0090 216 6330633
Fax: 0090 216 6341250
e-mail: alperevrensel@gmail.com
THE PSYCHO-PERIODIC CUBE
Abstract
The current diagnostic classification systems in psychiatry have been developed primarily for
evidence-based clinical decision making with both categorical and dimensional approaches having
their own advantages and disadvantages. Efforts have been made to improve these classification
systems, and we are now at the point where we must expand beyond the one-dimensionality of
these systems. In this paper, we propose that psychiatric disorders can be arranged in a three-
dimensional classification system according to the degree of dysfunctions on three specific axes in a
way that is similar to the arrangement of chemical elements according to their atomic weights in
Mendeleyev’s periodic table. For the three axes, we chose externalization, drive, and attention to
represent the three-dimensional descriptions of mental health, namely, well-being in social,
motivational, and cognitive areas, respectively. Throughout the paper, we explain our reasons for
choosing these three axes and compare our hypothesis with categorical diagnostic systems as well as
Cloninger’s dimensional diagnostic system using personality disorders, affective disorders, and
schizophrenia as the specific diagnostic samples.
Key words: diagnostic classification systems, externalization, drive, attention, categorical diagnostic
systems, dimensional diagnostic systems, Cloninger’s psychobiological model.
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