RDoC and shift of reference

Abstract

Current classification systems have helped unify psychiatry and the conditions that it is most concerned with. However, by relying too much on syndromes and symptoms, they too often do not define stable constructs. As a result, inclusions and removals from the manuals are not always backed by sound reasons. The RDoC framework is an important move towards ameliorating matters. This paper argues that it improves the current situation by re-referencing constructs to physical properties (biomarkers for disorders, for example), by allowing theoretical levels within the framework, and by treating psychiatry as a special case of the cognitive sciences.

Use of routine health records to study mental health care of Brazilian children

“…We found that males used the service more frequently than females. This finding confirms what was found previously 10,16 . There were important regional differences in rates of visits per 100,000 inhabitants.…”

“…These levels seem to peak in 2011 at almost 150 per 100,000 inhabitants, see figure 2. Higher frequencies of mental retardation in this region were reported previously 10,16 , however, growth in rates of visits had never been reported before. In Brazil, until the 1980s, subjects with mental retardation were treated in hospices 17 .…”

“…The entire block of pervasive developmental disorders was used due to the dimensional nature of autism [14][15][16] (Figures 3, 4 and 5). A higher risk in males was found for this diagnosis, and a more stable reduced risk in all ages above 8 years.…”

“…A higher risk in males was found for this diagnosis, and a more stable reduced risk in all ages above 8 years. Older children (15)(16)(17) in the Southeast had a probability reduction of 16% for each unit change in the outcome (Figure 4).…”

“…We decided to analyse the entire block of Pervasive Developmental Disorders due to the dimensional nature of autism [14][15][16] . The regressions estimates showed marked regional trend differences with regard to age.…”