NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS: FROM COGNITIVE DEFICITS TO BRAIN NETWORKS

Abstract

Mental disorders represent complex disturbances of brain–mind functioning that manifest through alterations in cognition, emotion regulation, and behavior. Advances in neuroscience and neuropsychology have shifted the understanding of psychopathology from symptom-based classifications toward mechanistic models grounded in neural circuitry and cognitive processes. This review synthesizes contemporary literature on the neuropsychological bases of major mental disorders, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Emphasis is placed on core cognitive domains—attention, memory, executive functioning, and processing speed—and their associated neural substrates. Evidence indicates that cognitive deficits often precede the onset of clinical symptoms, function as trait-like vulnerability markers, and strongly predict long-term functional outcomes across diagnostic categories. The review further highlights transdiagnostic cognitive impairments and shared neural circuit dysfunctions, supporting dimensional frameworks such as the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). Understanding the neuropsychological foundations of mental disorders has significant implications for early identification, prognosis, and the development of targeted interventions. The paper concludes by outlining future research directions that integrate neuropsychological assessment with neuroimaging and longitudinal designs to advance precision psychiatry.