For many years, the topic of mental health has been a subject of debate. To some extent, various positions, theories, and critiques have contributed to maintaining a somewhat homogeneous stance among professionals and experts in the field. However, never before has there been such an urgent need to discuss the criteria, methodologies, approaches, definitions, and research in this domain with greater scientific rigor.

We must acknowledge that, for years, we have relied on historical psychological perspectives to describe mental disorders, their management, and explanation. While this was not necessarily detrimental to the development of behavioral studies, it does pose challenges in maintaining those same concepts today. With the level of information and scientific progress we currently possess, we have identified numerous biological and genetic variables that provide deeper insights into the manifestation of dysfunctional behaviors.

The practice of psychology and psychiatry in this era must align with the advancements of this century. To achieve this, we need to delve into genetic, molecular, biological, and environmental studies that encompass the context of our current reality.

Each human being has unique characteristics, and within these particularities exist countless risk factors that are not considered in the current diagnostic classification system. For instance, the approach to a patient with a psychotic spectrum disorder (formerly defined as schizophrenia) who has a genetic predisposition to symptomatic manifestations of the illness will have different biopsychosocial characteristics. Consequently, their diagnostic approach will differ from that of a patient without these predispositions or with varying degrees of them. Similarly, other mental disorders may present comorbidities, and treatments today are often identical (or similar) to those given to patients without these additional features.

To understand this, we must highlight significant scientific initiatives aimed at identifying these new correlational variables, such as those led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in the United States. For approximately 14 years, they have been developing the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC), which aims to foster new research approaches that lead to better diagnoses, prevention, intervention, and cures. This revolutionary approach promises to provide an understanding of mental health in terms of individual and multifactorial differentiation.

It is essential to promote and fund mental health research in our countries, as it is the only way we can address the current and future diagnostic and treatment realities of various mental disorders and illnesses. Most importantly, these investigations should create the conditions for an adequate strategy for preventing mental illnesses. To achieve these changes, academic institutions, psychology and psychiatry schools, psychiatric residencies, and health regulatory authorities in our country must unite in promoting and investing in studies that position us on the global scientific map. Otherwise, we will continue validating procedures that do not necessarily address the needs of our population.

Author:
Master Ariel Báez P. – Dean of the School of Humanities.