Irritability through Research Domain Criteria: an opportunity for transdiagnostic conceptualisation

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Background:

• Irritability is a widespread phenomenon impacting many individuals.
• Current diagnostic approaches struggle to define and measure irritability effectively in adults.
• Its transdiagnostic nature complicates research using traditional categorical frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the application of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework for studying adult irritability.
• To address the limitations of existing models, particularly those developed for pediatric populations.
• To propose a novel approach for understanding the underlying mechanisms of irritability in adults.

Main Methods:

• The study proposes a conceptual framework utilizing the RDoC approach.
• It contrasts this with existing diagnostic perspectives and pediatric RDoC models.
• The focus is on a domain-based analysis rather than symptom clusters.

Main Results:

• The RDoC framework offers a more comprehensive approach to understanding irritability.
• It allows for the examination of irritability across multiple neurobiological and behavioral domains.
• This approach may reveal common mechanisms underlying irritability in various disorders.

Conclusions:

• A RDoC-based approach is essential for advancing the conceptualization and measurement of adult irritability.
• This framework can bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications.
• Further research using RDoC is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of irritability and inform treatment strategies.