What this means
Most studies measure only depression symptoms, which captures just a small part of psychological capacity. This editorial says better definitions and better tools are needed.
Plain-English summary written by an AI model from the abstract. The original is below.
- Who it was tested in
- Not stated
- Kind of research
- A study
The science
- Original title
- Conceptualizing psychological capacity.
- Authors
- Beard JR, Coons WR
- Journal
- The journal of nutrition, health & aging
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
- Study type
- Study
- PMID
- 42868861 ↗
Abstract
Intrinsic capacity is being increasingly used as an entry point for clinical care and as a research outcome, yet basic work on measurement of its subdomains has lagged. Psychological capacity illustrates the challenge: despite its conceptual breadth, most studies limit measurement to symptoms of depression, capturing only a fraction of the construct. This editorial discusses a consensus-building effort by Hagani et al. in this issue that offers a clearer definition of psychological capacity and a replicable process for sharpening intrinsic capacity's other subdomains. It argues that conceptual clarity must now be followed by measurement tools that move the field beyond depressive symptoms while being psychometrically sound, available in brief and comprehensive forms, and sensitive to change.
Beard JR, Coons WR Conceptualizing psychological capacity. The journal of nutrition, health & aging. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jnha.2026.101004. PMID: 42868861. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42868861/