Translational research in psychiatry: The Research Domain Criteria Project (RDoC)

Publication date: Available online 25 July 2019Source: Revista de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (English Edition)Author(s): Ana Vilar, Víctor Pérez-Sola, María Jesús Blasco, Elena Pérez-Gallo, Laura Ballester Coma, Santiago Batlle Vila, Jordi Alonso, Antoni Serrano-Blanco, Carlos G. ForeroAbstractDespite the consensus achieved in the homogenisation of clinical criteria by categorical psychiatric classification systems (DEM and CIE), they are criticised for a lack of validity and inability to guide clinical treatment and research. In this review article we introduce the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework as an alternative framework for translational research in psychiatry.The RDOC framework systematises both research targets and methodology for research in psychiatry. RDoC is based on a catalogue of neurobiological and neurocognitive evidence of behaviour, and conceives psychopathology as the phenotypic expression of alterations of functional domains that are classified into 5 psychobiological systems. The RdoC framework also proposes that domains must be validated with evidence in 7 levels of analysis: genes, molecules, cells, nerve circuits, physiology, behaviour and self-reports. As opposed to categorical systems focused on diagnosis, RDoC focuses on the study of psychopathology as a correlate of detectable functional, biological and behavioural disruption of normal processes.In order to build a useful psychiatric nosology for guiding clinical interventions, the R...

Source: Revista de Psiquiatria y Salud Mental - July 25, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research