Our circuits, ourselves: What the autism spectrum can tell us about the Research Domain Criteria Project (RDoC) and the neurogenetic transformation of diagnosis

摘要: The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project is an ambitious new initiative by the National Institute of Mental Health that aims to comprehensively redefine mental illnesses as problems neurogenetic ‘circuitry’. This essay explores potential implications this nascent approach. Drawing on data from two studies examine diagnosis autism spectrum disorder, itself recently reconceptualized along lines similar diagnostic paradigm, I argue such ‘circuit disorders’ differ their predecessors in significant ways. First, while psychiatric disease entities under previous paradigm were understood fundamentally separable affected person, circuit disorders are bound up intimate neuropsychological processes memory, perception and desire; they thus often experienced constitutive identity those living description. Second, rather than being limited matters ‘clinically impairment’, multivalent, encompassing valued well devalued traits. Given one major aim RDoC allow for pre-emptive biomedical intervention upon pre-symptomatic states, these emergent qualities raise complex ethical concerns. conclude illustrating way concerns become obscured transition ostensibly value-neutral biophysiological paradigm.