ABSTRACT
After presenting the major milestones in the 30-year history of the Millennium Institute for Depression and Personality Research Group, the authors summarize the main findings on the impact of early adversity on mental health pathology in adulthood. The prevalent diathesis/stress model is discussed, and it is argued that, following the seminal ideas of Eric Kandel, along with genetic variables, which have to do with the evolutionary history inscribed in our genes, there is a permanent interaction between genes and environment that crystallizes in what we call vulnerability. Models of gene-environment interaction are analyzed, in particular the alternative model of differential susceptibility. The concept of “prosocial genes” or “plasticity genes” and the effect of the environment on the expression of these genes through epigenetic mechanisms are introduced. The authors conclude by presenting the results of a pilot study that investigated the hypothesis that psychotherapy can reverse epigenetic changes brought about by early life adversity in a group of borderline adolescents in psychotherapy.
