RDoCs

The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) is a research framework developed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in the United States. Its primary goal is to understand mental disorders by examining fundamental dimensions of functioning that span across diagnostic categories. Instead of relying solely on current diagnostic labels like those in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), RDoC seeks to build a more biologically and psychologically grounded classification system.

The RDoC framework organizes mental functioning into several core constructs, such as positive valence systems (e.g., reward, motivation), negative valence systems (e.g., fear, loss), cognitive systems (e.g., attention, working memory), systems for social processes (e.g., affiliation, communication), and arousal/regulatory systems (e.g., sleep, arousal). Each construct is further broken down into observable behaviors, physiological responses, and genetic or neural circuit data. Researchers are encouraged to study these fundamental units of behavior and biology, regardless of whether they map neatly onto existing diagnostic categories.

This approach aims to facilitate the discovery of new treatment targets by identifying underlying biological mechanisms contributing to a range of mental health conditions. By moving beyond traditional symptom-based diagnoses, RDoC encourages a dimensional approach to psychopathology, viewing mental disorders as arising from disturbances in these fundamental functional systems rather than discrete illnesses. The framework is intended to guide research, not to replace clinical diagnosis.