There have not been many evidence-based classifications of psychiatric disorders regarding brain mechanisms. While the National Institute of Mental Health has recommended the Research Domain Criteria, it has not yet affected any shift in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The author of this article states that schizophrenia has been the major psychiatric disorder that has been studied most widely regarding the brain. In this clinical translational review, the author identifies current gaps in research outcomes in the brains of those with schizophrenia and the clinical utility of assessing the brain in those who have been diagnosed with or developing schizophrenia. It is noted that healthcare professionals who assess and treat patients with schizophrenia could benefit from gaining knowledge about the heterogeneous connections of the brain having an impact on the symptoms and response to medications.

Reference: DeLisi LE. What a Clinician Should Know About the Neurobiology of Schizophrenia: A Historical Perspective to Current Understanding. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2020;18(4):368-374. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200022