Two years ago I wrote a piece on how neurotechnology will redefine how mental disorders are diagnosed and categorized. "As information from biochips and brain imaging technology becomes available it will be possible to diagnose mental disorders from the bottom up." In support of my views, I recently joined the DSM-V Prelude Project to make sure that the latest neurodiagnostics research findings are well represented.

From the Project website: "Although the DSM-V revision process will not formally begin until 2006 or 2007 (see timeline), the American Psychiatric Association has created this web site in order to keep the public and professionals informed about the plans for DSM-V as well as the ongoing effort to enrich the research base in advance of starting formal work on DSM-V. In addition, this web site provides an opportunity for you to alert us to problems in the DSM-IV that you may have encountered and to provide your suggestions for DSM-V."

Here is the current projected timeline for the DSM-V:
1999-2005 Development of DSM-V Preplanning White Papers
2002 Publication of “A Research Agenda for DSM-V” (monograph containing six white papers)
2004-5 Publication of additional DSM-V Preplanning White Papers
2004-2007Review data from the 10 APA/NIH-sponsored conferences on "The Future of Psychiatric Diagnosis: Refining the Research Agenda"
2007 Appointment of DSM-V Workgroups
2011 Publication of DSM-V

For those who are interested in this very important subject, I highly recommend visiting the website and downloading the free book published by the American Psychiatric Association, A Research Agenda for DSM-V. It's a 280 page primer with interesting tidbits on the future of neuroimaging and the important role that neuroinformatics must play going forward.

NOTE: (from the website) These dates are tentative; although these events will not occur any earlier, they could occur later.