[The decision making: neuroanatomy, functional exploration and mental disorders].

The term decision making indicates aspects of the executive functions related to the ability to modulate the reward and punishment perception, in order to operate advantageous choices. From the clinical point of view it appears a transnosographic trait that may influence the suicide risk and aggressive acts, increase interpersonal difficulties and modulate therapeutic response: an interesting link between clinical symptomatology and functional daily abilities. We conducted a literature review on its neurophysiology and neuropsychology and the implications in different psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, unipolar depression, suicide, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substances abuse, personality disorders, aggressiveness and pathological gambling.