About this Research Topic

Background

This Research Topic is part of the Methods and Applications in Psychopathology series.

Neuropsychiatric disorders are highly prevalent in the population and are causing an enormous disease burden globally. For instance, according to the 2017 estimation of the World Health Organization, 4.4% and 3.6% of the global population lived with depressive and anxiety disorders in 2015, respectively. In 2016, neuropsychiatric disorders (including mental and addictive disorders) caused 7% of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 19% of all years lived with disability, two major indices of global burden of diseases.

One of the most important causes of such a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders is our lack of precise understanding of the psychopathological and neurobiological mechanisms of these disorders, which holds us back from developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.



The aim of this Research Topic is to publish a wide range of studies that help advance our understanding of the psychopathological and neurobiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders with novel methods and technologies. In particular, this Research Topic aims to highlight the latest experimental techniques and up-to-date methods used to investigate fundamental questions in Psychopathology and enhance our understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders. These can be new techniques and methods used in human or animal subjects, and can be new animal models of any neuropsychiatric disease. Novel statistical and data science techniques are also welcome.

Examples of such novel techniques and methods include, but are not limited to, the experience sampling method, mobile app-based methods, the combination of behavioral experiments with computational modelling, computational model-based fMRI, functional connectivity and network dynamics with resting state fMRI, multivariate neuroimaging analysis, psychosocial stress animal models, genetic and epigenetic methods, brain stimulation or neuromodulation techniques such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and optogenetics, in vivo microdialysis and microinjection techniques, mixed models, Bayesian inference models, machine learning and deep learning techniques, novel psychometric scales and assessment tools, and so on.

This Research Topic welcomes:

• Methods: Describing either new or existing methods that are significantly improved or adapted for specific purposes.

• Protocols: Detailed descriptions, including pitfalls and troubleshooting, to benefit those who may evaluate or employ the techniques.

• Original research employing any of these novel methods and protocols listed above.

• Perspective or General Commentaries on methods and protocols listed above.

• Reviews and mini-reviews summarizing the advantage and limitations of either new or existing methods.

• Reviews and mini-reviews of topical methods and protocols highlighting the important future directions of the field.

Keywords: Methods, Techniques, Protocols, Central Nervous System, Neurodevelopment, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Mental Health

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.

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