Research Domain Criteria

Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) is a framework for research on mental disorders developed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in the United States. The RDoC initiative aims to create a new classification system for mental health disorders based on dimensions of observable behavior and neurobiological measures.

Overview

The RDoC framework was introduced in 2009 as an alternative to traditional diagnostic systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Unlike these systems, which categorize mental disorders based on clinical symptoms, RDoC seeks to understand the underlying mechanisms of mental disorders by integrating multiple levels of information, including genetics, neuroscience, and behavioral science.

Domains and Constructs

RDoC is organized into several domains, each representing a major system of human functioning. Within each domain, there are specific constructs that are studied. The five primary domains are:

• Negative Valence Systems: Involves responses to aversive situations or context, such as fear, anxiety, and loss.
• Positive Valence Systems: Involves responses to positive motivational situations or contexts, such as reward seeking, learning, and habit formation.
• Cognitive Systems: Involves various cognitive processes, including attention, perception, memory, and executive function.
• Systems for Social Processes: Involves processes related to interpersonal interactions, such as attachment, social communication, and perception of self and others.
• Arousal and Regulatory Systems: Involves basic arousal and regulatory functions, such as sleep-wake cycles, circadian rhythms, and homeostatic regulation.

Research Approach

The RDoC framework encourages researchers to study mental disorders across multiple levels of analysis, from genes to behavior. This approach is intended to foster a more comprehensive understanding of mental health and to identify new targets for treatment. The levels of analysis include:

• Genes: The study of genetic variations and their influence on mental health.
• Molecules: The study of molecular pathways and their role in brain function.
• Cells: The study of cellular mechanisms and their impact on neural circuits.
• Circuits: The study of neural circuits and their role in behavior.
• Physiology: The study of physiological processes and their relationship to mental health.
• Behavior: The study of observable behaviors and their underlying mechanisms.
• Self-Reports: The study of subjective experiences and self-reported data.
• Paradigms: The use of experimental tasks to study specific constructs.

Impact and Criticism

The RDoC framework has been influential in shaping contemporary research on mental health. It has encouraged a more integrative and mechanistic approach to understanding mental disorders. However, it has also faced criticism for its complexity and for the challenge of translating its findings into clinical practice.

See Also

• National Institute of Mental Health
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• International Classification of Diseases
• Neuroscience
• Behavioral science
• Genetics