Advances in Prevention Science: A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective

Abstract

We utilize a perspective derived from developmental psychopathology to guide our discussion of advances that have been made in the field of prevention science over the last decade. After addressing definitional perspectives on prevention, we review programmatic preventive initiatives that are consistent with the goals of a developmental psychopathology perspective. We then direct our attention to conceptual and methodological considerations in the field of prevention science, paying particular attention to the incorporation of multilevel investigations into randomized controlled trials. In the penultimate section of this chapter, we discuss the importance of translational research and of dissemination efforts. We conclude by preferring recommendations for future directions for prevention science in the decades ahead.

The association between parental attributions of misbehavior and parenting practices in caregivers raising children with prenatal alcohol exposure: A mixed-methods study

“…Obtaining appropriate services for children with FASD can be very difficult due to a number of systems barriers (Petrenko et al, 2014); having greater financial resources provides families with greater opportunities to find respite, pay for services and recreational programs for the child, and reduces other sources of stress for families (e.g., paying bills, meeting basic needs). Future studies are needed to replicate findings in larger, more representative samples and to test the causal linkages between parental attributions of behavior, parenting practices, and parenting sense of competence (optimally through randomized controlled intervention trials; Toth, Petrenko, Gravener-Davis, & Handley, 2016). …”

“…Future studies are needed to directly test whether interventions produce change in these constructs and whether this change mediates the observed reductions in child behavior problems and improvements in family functioning. Randomized controlled trials are an optimal design with which to evaluate existing theory, as they allow for a true test of causality, which may not be possible otherwise (Toth, et al, 2016). The establishment of a relevant, semi-structured qualitative interview and the development of a quantitative coding system facilitates future research testing these theorized mechanisms of change.…”

Findings from the Families on Track Intervention Pilot Trial for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Their Families

“…Furthermore, the relative magnitude of effect sizes across caregiver outcomes suggests that the psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral strategies used within the FMF Program may have the largest family impact. The development of the PPI was instrumental in documenting change on these important, treatment‐relevant constructs and initiating needed research on mechanisms of change (Toth et al., ).…”

“…Developmental psychopathology provides a useful theoretical basis for conceptualizing preventive interventions (Cicchetti and Toth, ; Toth et al., ) and unifies existing theories for FASD interventions (Kodituwakku, ; Olson et al., ; Petrenko, ). From this perspective, preventive interventions target relevant reciprocal transactions among risk and protective factors across ecological levels (e.g., individual, family, community, culture) and multiple levels of analysis (e.g., genetic, neural, physiological, behavioral, interpersonal) to promote more adaptive developmental trajectories.…”

Promoción Y Prevención en Salud Mental: ¿esperanza Fundada, Vana Ilusión O Contrabando Psicopatologizador?

“…Sin embargo, es discutible hasta qué grado ésta es una limitación efectivamente relevante de las investigaciones porque supone que los criterios diagnósticos de trastornos mentales son válidos, cuestión cada vez más debatida (Wakefield, 2016). Por otro lado, se ha mostrado que es un error pensar que los programas tendrán efectos específicos sobre cada trastorno, dado que iguales determinantes pueden dar lugar a consecuencias y trastornos diferentes; asimismo, un problema o trastorno de salud mental particular puede tener distintas causas (equipotencialidad y multifinalidad, respectivamente) (Toth, Petrenko, Gravener Davis y Handley, 2016). En consecuencia, es probable que los programas tengan efectos más amplios que la sola reducción de la incidencia de un tipo de trastorno particular (Arango et al, 2018;Cuijpers, 2011).…”