Table 3.

RDoC constructs, related mental states, and strategies for promotion/prevention and early intervention

RDoC domain/construct	States related to positive mental health	Promotion/prevention	Early intervention
Cognitive systems    - effortful control    - working memory	Reasonable ability to sustain attention, engage in problem solving	Parent-child joint attention activities, play involving concentration and memory, learning to structure work Whole-school interventions	Task monitoring, organizational support, rewards for sustained attention
Positive valence systems	Reasonable ability to derive satisfaction from constructive social and intellectual activity	Early cognitive and social stimulation, early exposure to role models intellectually stimulating peer activities	Identification and intervention for learning disorders and other impediments to school success
Negative valence low mood	Reasonable ability to regulate emotions and moderate responses to perceived threats	Contingent responsiveness, parental warmth, cognitive coping skills, promotion of self- esteem, self-efficacy (via social processes domain), skills and activities that build social capital	Behavioral activation, solution-focused problem solving
Negative valence    - acute, potential, and sustained threat			Differentiation of sustained versus acute or potential fears: cognitive coping, behavioral rehearsal, modeling, graded exposure
Tolerance of negative valence states			Relaxation, distraction, mindfulness, controlled avoidance
Social processes    - attachment    - social communications    - self representation	Positive sense of self, ability to form bonds with others, ability to read and express emotions	Parenting guidance Whole-classroom programmes Community-based group activities for children	Social skills groups Parent-child bibliotherapy
Arousal - sleep cycles	Evolving ability to match sleep needs with cultural norms	Monitoring of electronic activities, sufficient physical activity, limiting intake of substances interfering with sleep and arousal	Sleep hygiene, problem- solving around schedules, substance intake, increasing physical activity
Parent/family interventions		Support for parent to maintain these interactions over time, promotion of parental self-efficacy, mentalization, developmental knowledge	Support from across formal and informal community agencies to provide these interventions; treatment of parental mental health problems
		Support for the family in the community: social support of various kinds,promotion of financial stability; attention to mental health promotion and prevention across the lifespan