A study by researchers at Northwestern University and other institutions suggests that the way individuals move may provide valuable insights into their mental health conditions. The research, published in *Clinical Psychological Science*, examines how various movement characteristics relate to psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, mania, dissociation, substance use, and psychosis.
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Historically, movement difficulties have been associated with mental health disorders like schizophrenia, but there has been uncertainty about whether specific movement types correlate with particular psychological symptoms. The new study indicates some identifiable relationships between movement patterns and psychological symptoms, though no simple one-to-one associations were established.
Data from 3,460 participants in the Multi-Site Assessment of Psychosis-Risk study was analyzed. Participants reported their psychological symptoms and provided information on their movement and physical activity, including issues with coordination and involuntary movements. The analysis revealed that overall movement problems, as well as involuntary movements and coordination difficulties, had positive correlations with various psychological symptom domains.
Additionally, the researchers observed differences in physical activity levels among participants. Increased physical activity was linked to symptoms of mania and substance use, while lower activity was associated with feelings of detachment, fear, and distress.
The findings suggest a shift towards a transdiagnostic approach in mental health, emphasizing characteristics that span conventional diagnostic boundaries rather than confining individual symptoms to specific disorders. However, the study does not advocate using workplace behavior or movement as diagnostic tools for mental health. It highlights the need for further research to determine the clinical significance of these movement-related traits, particularly in individuals with diagnosed conditions.
The authors advocate for recognizing motor characteristics as potential indicators of psychological difficulties and caution against drawing direct diagnostic conclusions based on movement patterns alone. This research also aligns with a broader movement towards understanding mental health issues as overlapping dimensions rather than isolated categories, supported by the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP).
The study, titled "Motor Abnormalities and the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology: Incorporating a Psychomotor Perspective Into a Hierarchical Dimensional Symptom Framework," was published online on June 15, 2026.