out disrupting current clinical practice or  research. With support from DSM-associated
training materials, the National Institutes of  Health other funding agencies, and scientific
publications, the more dimensional DSM-5 approach and organizational structure can fa-
cilitate research across current diagnostic ca tegories by encouraging broad investigations
within the proposed chapters and across adja cent chapters. Such a reformulation of re-
search goals should also keep DSM-5 central to the development of dimensional approaches
to diagnosis that will likely supplement or supersede current categorical approaches in
coming years.
Developmental and Life span Considerations
To improve clinical utility, DSM-5 is organi zed on developmental and lifespan consider-
ations. It begins with diagnoses thought to reflect developmental processes that manifest
early in life (e.g., neurodevelopmental and schizophrenia spectrum  and other psychotic
disorders), followed by diagnoses that more  commonly manifest in adolescence and
young adulthood (e.g., bipolar, depressive, and anxiety disorders), an d ends with diagno-
ses relevant to adulthood and later life (e.g.,  neurocognitive disord ers). A similar approach
has been taken, where possible, within each chapter. This organizational structure facili-
tates the comprehensive use of lifespan informat ion as a way to assist in diagnostic deci-
sion making. 
The proposed organization of chapters of DSM-5, after the neurodevelopmental disor-
ders, is based on groups of internalizing (emoti onal and somatic) disorders, externalizing
disorders, neurocognitive disorders, and other disorders. It is hoped that this organization
will encourage furthe r study of underlying pathophysiological processes that give rise to
diagnostic comorbidity and sy mptom heterogeneity. Furthermore, by arranging disorder
clusters to mirror clinical reality, DSM-5 shou ld facilitate identifica tion of potential diag-