RDoC: Research Domain Criteria Framework

Source: NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)

What is RDoC?

The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework, established in 2009, represents a research initiative designed to "create a set of research principles for investigating mental disorders." Rather than functioning as a diagnostic tool, RDoC aims to reshape how scientists understand psychopathology by examining deviations in fundamental biological and psychological systems.

Purpose

RDoC arose out of concerns that basing clinical research on symptom-based categories (like DSM) may be hampering attempts to understand the etiology and mechanisms of mental-health disorders. It offers an alternative approach to conceptualizing research questions on psychopathology as informed by modern behavioral neuroscience.

Important: RDoC is NOT designed as diagnostic criteria to replace the DSM. It is a research framework for future development.

Core Structure

Six Functional Domains

1. Negative Valence Systems

   • Fear
   • Anxiety
   • Sustained threat
   • Loss
   • Frustrative nonreward

2. Positive Valence Systems

   • Reward responsiveness
   • Reward learning
   • Reward valuation
   • Effort valuation/willingness to work
   • Expectancy/reward prediction error
   • Action selection/preference-based decision making
   • Initial responsiveness to reward
   • Sustained responsiveness to reward
   • Reward anticipation
   • Habit

3. Cognitive Systems

   • Attention
   • Perception
   • Declarative memory
   • Language
   • Cognitive control
   • Working memory

4. Systems for Social Processes

   • Affiliation and attachment
   • Social communication
   • Perception and understanding of self
   • Perception and understanding of others

5. Arousal/Regulatory Systems

   • Arousal
   • Circadian rhythms
   • Sleep-wakefulness

6. Sensorimotor Systems (Added later)

   • Motor actions
   • Agency and ownership
   • Habit
   • Innate motor patterns

Constructs

These represent "psychological/biological dimensions" within each domain, studied across the complete spectrum from typical to atypical functioning.

Units of Analysis

Research integrates multiple data types:

• Genes
• Molecules
• Cells
• Circuits
• Physiology
• Behavior
• Self-reports
• Paradigms

Key Methodology Principles

The RDoC approach emphasizes:

• Dimensional rather than categorical thinking about mental health
• Lifespan development as essential to research
• Environmental factors including physical, cultural, and social determinants
• Transdiagnostic perspectives recognizing symptoms common across diagnoses

Four Foundational Assumptions (NIMH)

1. A diagnostic approach based on biology as well as symptoms must not be constrained by current DSM categories
2. Mental disorders are biological disorders involving brain circuits that implicate specific domains of cognition, emotion, or behavior
3. Each level of analysis needs to be understood across a dimension of function
4. Mapping the cognitive, circuit, and genetic aspects of mental disorders will yield new and better targets for treatment

Historical Context

Over 200 leading scientists collaborated with NIMH core researchers to develop the framework, addressing longstanding limitations in symptom-based diagnostic approaches, particularly problems with:

• Heterogeneity within diagnostic categories
• Comorbidity across diagnoses
• Lack of biological validity

Research Impact

• Over 1,000 papers have resulted from grants funded under RDoC-focused funding opportunities
• RDoC-focused grant applications have competed well in the general pool of applications
• The framework continues to be updated based on new scientific findings

RDoC vs DSM: Key Differences