Annual Research Review: The contributions of the RDoC research framework on understanding the neurodevelopmental origins, progression and treatment of mental illnesses. (3rd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pacheco, Jennifer; Garvey, Marjorie A.; Sarampote, Christopher S.; Cohen, Elan D.; Murphy, Eric R.; Friedman‐Hill, Stacia R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry and allied disciplines. Volume 63:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 376
• Publication Date: 2022-01-03
• Subjects: ADHD -- autism spectrum disorders -- development -- intervention; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; 155.4
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9630

Abstract

Abstract : The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) proposed the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative as an alternate way to organize research of mental illnesses, by looking at dimensions of functioning rather than being tied to categorical diagnoses. This paper briefly discusses the motivation for and organization of RDoC, and then explores the NIMH portfolio and recent work to monitor the utility and progress that RDoC has afforded developmental research. To examine how RDoC has influenced the NIMH developmental research portfolio over the last decade, we employed a natural language processing algorithm to identify the number of developmental science grants classified as incorporating an RDoC approach. Additional portfolio analyses examine temporal trends in funded RDoC‐relevant grants, publications and citations, and research training opportunities. Reflecting on how RDoC has influenced the focus of grant applications, we highlight examples from research on Attention‐Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), childhood irritability, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Lastly, we consider how the dimensional and transdiagnostic approaches emphasized in RDoC have facilitated research on personalized intervention for heterogeneous disorders and preventive/early interventions targeting emergent or subthreshold psychopathology.