Developmental Mechanisms in Gene-by-Intervention (GxI) Effects in the Fast Track Trial

Abstract

The first decade of this century witnessed extraordinary progress in our understanding of the role of the environment in the development of psychopathology, how interventions can be mounted to prevent psychopathology, and how individual differences marked by genetic factors moderate the impacts of the environment and intervention. The past several years have built on this foundation with progress in understanding the mechanisms through which these environmental and intervention effects, and their interaction with genetic factors, occur. This chapter describes some of this research directed toward understanding the mechanisms through which early stress and harsh parenting have an effect on the development of externalizing psychopathology, the mechanisms through which one preventive intervention called Fast Track operates, and the mechanisms through which interaction with one gene, the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1, has on regulating the response to the Fast Track intervention. The chapter will focus on developmental epidemiological studies from the Child Development Project and the randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of the Fast Track intervention to prevent chronic violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)