Behavioural genetic studies of child and adolescent psychopathology

Abstract

The role of genetic and environmental factors in the development of psychopathology has been investigated for almost a century. However, most of the earlier research focused on the aetiology of psychopathology in adults. With the exception of severe psychiatric disorders, such as autism and Tourette syndrome, systematic behavioural genetic investigations of child and adolescent psychopathology (i.e., emotional and behavioural problems) are relatively recent (Rutter et al., 1990).