Emotion Regulation in Psychopathology: Integrating the Extended Process Model of Emotion Regulation with the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology

Emotion regulation (ER) is a central mechanism implicated in the onset, maintenance, and treatment of mental health conditions. Despite its transdiagnostic relevance, the breadth and specificity of ER difficulties across psychopathology remain insufficiently understood. This gap stems largely from research traditions that adopt single-disorder approaches, often overlooking high comorbidity rates, symptom heterogeneity, and symptom overlap. To address this gap, this paper integrates the Extended Process Model (EPM) of emotion regulation with the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). After introducing foundational concepts, we map stage-specific ER processes from the EPM (identification, selection, implementation, monitoring) onto HiTOP’s hierarchical dimensional structure. We discuss the clinical implications of this integrated approach, along with key challenges and practical considerations for future research in this field. This integration aims to generate a mechanistic falsifiable account of psychopathology that improves precision of clinical case formulation and transdiagnostic interventions.