In total, it appears that at least 15 percent of NIMH research funds are spent on research grants for diseases that are the primary responsibility of other NIH institutes. NIMH is funding a large number of behavioral research projects on diverse aspects of human behavior but almost no behavioral research that is relevant to severe mental illnesses. Behavioral research is very important and should be an integral component of all NIH Institutes. Behavioral research can help elucidate how to get people to eat less, exercise more, smoke less, drink less, practice safe sex, take medication regularly, get regular examinations, drive safely, etc., and thus help control obesity, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, some cancers, and many other diseases. It was a recognition of the importance of behavioral research that led NIH to create the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research.
Behavioral research is similarly important for understanding and treating severe mental illnesses.
The Appendix lists 25 examples of behavioral research funded by NIMH in FY1997. It illustrates the extreme diversity of such research, covering virtually every phase of human behavior and development. This diversity of research projects raises the question of whether NIMH conceives of itself primarily as a human behavior research institute. The funding by NIMH of diverse behavioral and social science research projects unrelated to severe mental illnesses effectively shifts funds originally allocated for research on severe mental illnesses to other purposes. A clarification of the fundamental mission of NIMH is needed.