HiTOP offers a fundamental conceptual departure from traditional classification of mental illness: it acknowledges evidence showing that disorders are dimensional in nature and can be organized in a hierarchical manner that recognizes that some elements of mental illness are unique to a syndrome but others are shared across several syndromes. HiTOP-based assessments can be used clinically today. The manuscript available here outlines the model and describes how it can be integrated into practice.

It is important to acknowledge that this effort remains a work in progress, with concomitant limitations. We provide guidance to measures to assist with assessment, and suggestions for how to address the issue of billing.