A Developmental Epidemiological Framework for Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology Research

Abstract

Describes the principles and theoretical perspectives of a comprehensive developmental epidemiological framework that has formed the foundation for the Johns Hopkins University Prevention Intervention Research Center's research programs concerning children's mental health. The authors describe the utility of a community epidemiology perspective in developing preventive interventions that address the impact of the ecology of the school classroom and the impact of neighborhood social ecology on children's mental health. The importance of a public health theoretical perspective in research is also illustrated in the development of collaborative preventive intervention trials. The utility of a developmental perspective is shown by tests of academic underachievement in children. The chapter concludes with recommendations for training psychologists in public health and epidemiological perspectives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2000 APA, all rights reserved)