<P> Currently, the diagnosis of mental disorders is based on clinical observation--identifying symptoms that tend to cluster together, determining when the symptoms appear, and determining whether the symptoms resolve, recur, or become chronic . However, the way that mental disorders are defined in the present diagnostic system does not incorporate current information from integrative neuroscience research, and thus is not optimal for making scientific gains through neuroscience approaches . It is difficult to deconstruct clusters of complex behaviors and attempt to link these to underlying neurobiological systems . Many mental disorders may be considered as falling along multiple dimensions (e.g., cognition, mood, social interactions), with traits that exist on a continuum ranging from normal to extreme . Co-occurrence of multiple mental disorders might reflect different patterns of symptoms that result from shared risk factors and perhaps the same underlying disease processes . </P> <P> To clarify the underlying causes of mental disorders, it will be necessary to define, measure, and link basic biological and behavioral components of normal and abnormal functioning . This effort will require integration of genetic, neuroscience, imaging, behavioral, and clinical studies . By linking basic biological and behavioral components, it will become possible to construct valid, reliable phenotypes (measurable traits or characteristics) for mental disorders . This will help us elucidate the causes of the disorder, while clarifying the boundaries and overlap between mental disorders . In order to understand mental disorders in terms of dimensions and / or components of neurobiology and behaviors, it will be important to: </P> <Ul> <Li> Initiate a process for bringing together experts in clinical and basic sciences to jointly identify the fundamental behavioral components that may span multiple disorders (e.g., executive functioning, affect regulation, person perception) and that are more amenable to neuroscience approaches . </Li> <Li> Develop reliable and valid measures of these fundamental components of mental disorders for use in basic studies and in more clinical settings . </Li> <Li> Determine the full range of variation, from normal to abnormal, among the fundamental components to improve understanding of what is typical versus pathological . </Li> <Li> Integrate the fundamental genetic, neurobiological, behavioral, environmental, and experiential components that comprise these mental disorders . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Initiate a process for bringing together experts in clinical and basic sciences to jointly identify the fundamental behavioral components that may span multiple disorders (e.g., executive functioning, affect regulation, person perception) and that are more amenable to neuroscience approaches . </Li>

A new initiative by the national institute of mental health rdoc focuses on
find me the text answering this question