• Online Features  This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (76)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Patient-Physician Relationship/ Care  • Psychosocial Issues  • Psychiatry  • Psychiatry, Other  • Public Health  • Public Health, Other  • Quality of Care  • Evidence-Based Medicine  • Statistics and Research Methods  • Genetics  • Genetics, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

A Strategic Plan for Research on Mental Illness

Thomas R. Insel, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009;66(2):128-133.

Context  Research has transformed many areas of medicine, with profound effects on morbidity and mortality. Exciting advances in neuroscience and genomics have transformed research but have not yet been translated to public health impact in psychiatry. Current treatments are necessary but not sufficient for most patients.

Objectives  To improve outcomes we will need to (1) identify the neural circuitry of mental disorders, (2) detect the earliest manifestations of risk or illness even before cognition or behavior appear abnormal, (3) personalize care based on individual responses, and (4) implement broader use of effective psychosocial interventions.

Results  To address these objectives, NIMH, working with its many stakeholders, developed a strategic plan for research. The plan calls for research that will (1) define the pathophysiology of disorders from genes to behavior, (2) map the trajectory of illness to determine when, where, and how to intervene to preempt disability, (3) develop new interventions based on a personalized approach to the diverse needs and circumstances of people with mental illnesses, and (4) strengthen the public health impact of NIMH-supported research by focusing on dissemination science and disparities in care.

Conclusions  The NIMH is shifting its funding priorities to close the gap between basic biological knowledge and effective mental health care, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.

Author Affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bethesda, Maryland.

CiteULike    Connotea    Delicious    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

A Pathway to Personalization of Integrated Treatment: Informatics and Decision Science in Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Spaulding and Deogun
Schizophr Bull 2011;37:S129-S137.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pre-Emptive Intervention in Psychosis: Agnostic Rather than Diagnostic
McGorry
Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2011;45:515-519.
FULL TEXT  

Translational Epidemiology in Psychiatry: Linking Population to Clinical and Basic Sciences
Weissman et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011;68:600-608.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Transition to Adulthood: The Critical Period for Pre-emptive, Disease-modifying Care for Schizophrenia and Related Disorders
McGorry
Schizophr Bull 2011;37:524-530.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Incremental Cost-effectiveness of Combined Therapy vs Medication Only for Youth With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor-Resistant Depression: Treatment of SSRI-Resistant Depression in Adolescents Trial Findings
Lynch et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011;68:253-262.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Male Life-Course-Persistent Antisocial Behavior: The Most Important Pediatric Mental Health Problem
Eme
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010;164:486-487.
FULL TEXT  

Who Is at Risk for a Psychotic Disorder?
Heckers
Schizophr Bull 2009;35:847-850.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT