What Next for Comorbidity Research?
As the day progressed, it became increasingly obvious that our current knowledge is limited by a research tradition that focuses on single disorders or a limited range of psychopathology. Additionally, most research investigations are cross-sectional and begin well after comorbidity is “in place” and therefore cannot shed light on the developmental processes involved in the etiology and course of comorbid conditions. Studies that assess a broad range of risk factors are needed, especially studies that have a genetically-informative design and are prospective in nature. The study of comorbidity rests on the foundation of modem diagnostic classification systems. It is quite possible that these same systems blind us to the underlying nature of the phenomenon we are trying to observe. Not only do we need to critically examine the challenge to the DSM posed by high rates of comorbidity, but we should consider examining additional forms of data, such as behavioral and biological laboratory t
