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 performance in two independent general population samples, we found that deficits in goal directed control were most strongly associated with a symptom dimension comprising compulsive behavior and intrusive thought. This association was highly specific when compared to other non compulsive aspects of psychopathology. These data showcase a powerful new methodology and highlight the potential of a dimensional, biologically grounded approach to psychiatry research. DOI: http:/dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11305.001
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