Transdiagnostic assessment in neurodevelopment: a systematic review

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as ASD, ADHD, and intellectual disability, have increased in global prevalence, highlighting the limitations of categorical diagnostic approaches (DSM-5, ICD-11), which fail to reflect clinical heterogeneity and comorbidity. In this context, transdiagnostic models such as RDoC and HiTOP emerge as dimensional alternatives that allow for the understanding of shared processes across disorders. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic review analyzed 125 studies published between 2015 and 2025 in Scopus, PubMed, and WOS. The results indicate that dimensions such as emotion regulation, executive functions, social cognition, and sleep better explain clinical complexity than traditional categories. The findings show the application of theoretical frameworks such as RDoC, HiTOP, and latent class analyses, identifying the limited sensitivity and clinical overlap of categorical models, along with empirical evidence on transversal processes such as emotion regulation, executive functions, and neurofunctional biomarkers, while recognizing the advantages of the transdiagnostic approach for more precise and contextualized interventions in clinical and educational settings. In conclusion, this approach provides a more inclusive and coherent framework consistent with the complexity of neurodevelopment