Cited by 215Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentMental Health Research TopicsNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Ten good reasons to consider biological processes in prevention and intervention research

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Beauchaine, Theodore P., Neuhaus, Emily, Brenner, Sharon L., Gatzke-Kopp, Lisa·2008·Development and Psychopathology

Abstract

Most contemporary accounts of psychopathology acknowledge the importance of both biological and environmental influences on behavior. In developmental psychopathology, multiple etiological mechanisms for psychiatric disturbance are well recognized, including those operating at genetic, neurobiological, and environmental levels of analysis. However, neuroscientific principles are rarely considered in current approaches to prevention or intervention. In this article, we explain why a deeper understanding of the genetic and neural substrates of behavior is essential for the next generation of preventive interventions, and we outline 10 specific reasons why considering biological processes can improve treatment efficacy. Among these, we discuss (a) the role of biomarkers and endophenotypes in identifying those most in need of prevention; (b) implications for treatment of genetic and neural mechanisms of homotypic comorbidity, heterotypic comorbidity, and heterotypic continuity; (c) ways in which biological vulnerabilities moderate the effects of environmental experience; (d) situations in which Biology x Environment interactions account for more variance in key outcomes than main effects; and (e) sensitivity of neural systems, via epigenesis, programming, and neural plasticity, to environmental moderation across the life span. For each of the 10 reasons outlined we present an example from current literature and discuss critical implications for prevention.

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  • Interactions between biology and environment sometimes explain more variance in outcomes than do main effects.

    “As interactions between biology and environment sometimes explain more variance in outcomes than do main effects (Beauchaine et al., 2008), accounting for these neural factors can clarify why some adolescents may be more primed for good or bad outcomes given their combination of neural susceptibility and social-contextual exposures.”

    From Adolescent neurobiological susceptibility to social context (2016) · cites this paper as Beauchaine et al., 2008

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Beauchaine TP Hinshaw SP Gatzke-Kopp L 2008 Genetic and environmental influences on behavior Beauchaine TP Hinshaw SP Child psychopathology: Genetic, neurobiological, and environmental substrates 58 91 Hoboken, NJ Wiley
  2. Beauchaine TP Mead HK 2006 Some recommendations for testing mediating and moderating effects in treatment-outcome research International Journal of Psychology Research 1 1
  3. Beauchaine TP Neuhaus E 2008 Behavioral disinhibition and vulnerability to psychopathology Beauchaine TP Hinshaw SP Child psychopathology: Genetic, neurobiological, and environmental substrates 129 156 Hoboken, NJ Wiley
  4. Crowell SE Beauchaine TP Lenzenweger M 2008 The development of borderline personality and self-injurious behavior Beauchaine TP Hinshaw S Child psychopathology: Genetic, neurobiological, and environmental substrates 510 541 Hoboken, NJ Wiley
  5. Fryer SL Crocker NA Mattson SN 2008 Exposure to teratogenic agents as a risk factor for psychopathology Beauchaine TP Hinshaw SP Child psychopathology: Genetic, neurobiological, and environmental substrates 180 207 Hoboken, NJ Wiley
  6. Klein DN Torpey DC Bufferd SJ Dyson MW 2008 Depressive disorders Beauchaine TP Hinshaw SP Child and adolescent psychopathology 477 509 Hoboken, NJ Wiley
  7. Perry BD 2008 Child maltreatment: A neurodevelopmental perspective on the role of abuse and neglect in Psychopathology Beauchaine TP Hinshaw SP Child psychopathology: Genetic, neurobiological, and environmental substrates 93 128 Hoboken, NJ Wiley

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Authors
Beauchaine, T. P., Neuhaus, E., Brenner, S. L., & Gatzke-Kopp, L.
Affiliations
University of Washington (US)
Corresponding author
Beauchaine, Theodore P.
Venue
Development and Psychopathology
Published
2008
Volume
20
Issue
3
Pages
745-774
ISSN
  • 0954-5794 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-2198
OpenAlex
W2172045957
Cited by
215
References
282
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 16
FWCI
2.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Development and Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH063699, MH63699)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
biological processes, prevention research, intervention research, developmental psychopathology, genetic etiology, neurobiological mechanisms, biomarkers, endophenotypes, psychiatric comorbidity, heterotypic continuity, gene-environment interaction, epigenesis, neuroplasticity, biological vulnerability, treatment efficacy
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Mental Disorders, Brain, Child, Child, Preschool, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Neuronal Plasticity, Phenotype, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Psychopathology, Risk Factors, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Social Environment, Neurotransmitter Agents, Twin Studies as Topic, Conduct Disorder, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Early Diagnosis

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