Psychology2016

550 CHAPTER 14

Statistically speaking, about one out of every five of the people
in this crowd probably suffers from some form of psychological
disorder.

contains the constructs fear, anxiety, and loss, among others. The purpose of the matrix is

to provide a means by which disorders may be better conceptualized and measured, based

on more modern research approaches in genetics and neuroscience in addition to those of

the behavioral sciences (Cuthbert, 2014; Insel & Cuthbert, 2015; see Figure 14.1).

HOW COMMON ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS?

That sounds like a lot of possible disorders, but most people

don’t get these problems, right?

Actually, psychological disorders are more common than most people might think.

Estimates of prevalence can vary based on the survey methodology, groups used, and the

questions being asked. For example, different analyses of data from the same survey sug-

gest that anywhere from 26.2 to 32.4 percent of American adults over age 18 suffer from a

mental disorder (Harvard Medical School, Department of Health Care Policy, 2007; Kessler

et al., 2005). More recently, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals

about 43.6 million American adults over age 18, or 18.1 percent, experienced some kind of

mental illness in 2014 (excluding developmental and substance use disorders). Fortunately,

the same survey revealed only about 4.1 percent of American adults had a serious mental

disorder (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2015). Overall, it

appears that more than 1 in 5 American adults experience a psychological dis-

order in any given year.

Statistically, mental disorders are one of the leading causes of disability in

the United States and Canada (National Institute of Mental Health, 2010). In fact,

it is quite common for people to suffer from more than one mental disorder at a

time, such as a person with depression who also has a substance-abuse disorder

or a person with an anxiety disorder who also suffers from sleep disorders. For

example, in 2014, of the 20.2 million American adults that had a substance use

disorder, approximately 39.1 percent met criteria for another psychological dis-

order (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2015). Ta b l e 1 4. 1 has

percentages of selected psychological disorders in the United States. Please note

the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health data does not provide

prevalence information for all of the different disorders. The data in this table is

based on earlier estimates.

Figure 14.1 RDoC Research Matrix Example

SOURCE: Based on and adapted from Insel & Cuthbert, 2015, and information from the RDoC Matrix,

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-priorities/rdoc/constructs/rdoc-matrix.shtml

Figure 14.1 RDoC Research Matrix Example

Hypothetical application of the RDoC approach. Individuals with a variety of symptom-based anxiety disorders are

examined with different methods, and across different areas of investigation, to identify specific data-based clusters and categories for diagnosis.

Symptom-based categories

anxiety disorderGeneralized

Panic disorder

Genetic risk

polygenic risk score

Data-driven diagnostic categories

can lead to improved

replication studies and

better-defined clinical trials.

Brain activity

ventromedial PFC

dorsalmedial amygdala ACC

Physiology

average cortisol levels

Behaviors

avoidance

facial expressions

Personal experience

social, cultural, and

environmental factors

Integrated data Data-driven categories

Social anxietydisorder

(social phobia)

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4