New Developments in Psychiatric Classification: A Transdiagnostic Approach

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Classification
• Nosology

Background:

• Traditional psychiatric classification systems (DSM, ICD) face limitations in meeting clinical needs.
• The transdiagnostic approach is emerging as a promising alternative for mental disorder classification.
• Frameworks like RDoC and HiTOP exemplify transdiagnostic perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a descriptive analysis of the transdiagnostic approach in psychiatry based on current literature.
• To review the evolution and potential of transdiagnostic classification in mental health.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of original and review articles.
• Bibliographic search using keywords: "transdiagnostic", "psychiatry", "diagnosis", "approach", "classification".
• Searches conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, etc.) for articles published between 2003 and 2024.

Main Results:

• Identified 261 records, with 104 articles included for full review.
• Highlighted the RDoC's focus on neurobiological bases and HiTOP's hierarchical, data-driven dimensional approach.
• Both RDoC and HiTOP offer potential as a basis for a new psychiatric nosology.

Conclusions:

• There is a consensus on the need for a new operational framework for psychiatric classification.
• The transdiagnostic approach represents a contemporary solution to the limitations of current systems.
• Further research and standardization of the transdiagnostic construct are essential for its implementation.