The clinical and biological heterogeneity in many common psychiatric disorders has received significant attention in recent years. We have observed that different causal mechanisms may relate to the same disorder, and multiple outcomes of interest can occur within one individual. For instance, several clinical symptom-based subtypes have been identified using data-driven methods in major depressive disorder (MDD), one of the most common disorders worldwide. Using the genetic and neuroimaging methods, there has also been ample evidence demonstrating that MDD is a genetically and biologically heterogeneous disorder with lots of different genes/brain circuits involved. Besides, some studies pointed out that MDD patients in different sex or age groups might differ in symptomatology, risk factors, and responses to treatment, suggesting sex and age as notable contributing factors to the heterogeneity of MDD. It has been suggested that investigating the heterogeneity of MDD and other psychiatric disorders is an important step toward clarifying underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and improving treatment.
The aim of the Research Topic is to explore different aspects of the heterogeneity of common psychiatric disorders, to improve the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these disorders, and to guide more precise diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. This Research Topic also strives to call for the contribution to improve the nosology of psychiatric disorders by reducing the high heterogeneity.
More specifically, the scope of this Research Topic encompasses, but is not limited to, the following themes:
- Clinical symptoms-based heterogeneity and potential subtypes of psychiatric disorders
- The heterogeneity of psychiatric symptoms and disorders and its influence on clinical intervention
- Demographic-related (e.g., sex- and age-related) heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders
- Biological heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders based on different (e.g., genetic and neuroimaging) methods
- Heterogeneity of subclinical psychiatric symptoms (e.g., psychotic-like experiences) in general population
We encourage Original Research, Brief Research and comprehensive Review related to this topic. In addition, studies on the heterogeneity of subclinical psychiatric symptoms (e.g., psychotic-like experiences, and anxiety symptoms) in the general population are also welcomed.
Keywords: Heterogeneity, Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Symptoms, Genetic, Neuroimaging
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
