Characterizing a psychiatric symptom dimension related to deficits in goal-directed control

Prominent theories suggest that compulsive behaviors, characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction, are driven by shared deficits in goal-directed control, which confers vulnerability for developing rigid habits. However, recent studies have shown that deficient goal-directed control accompanies several disorders, including those without an obvious compulsive element. Reasoning that this lack of clinical specificity might reflect broader issues with psychiatric diagnostic categories, we investigated whether a dimensional approach would better delineate the clinical manifestations of goal-directed deficits. Using large-scale online assessment of psychiatric symptoms and neurocognitive…

• JS
  James S. McDonnell Foundation
• W
  Wellcome

  Award: 101521/Z/12/Z
• NI
  National Institute on Drug Abuse

  Award: 1R01DA038891