ABSTRACT
Genetics, both quantitative and molecular, is likely to ignite an explosion of research in child psychopathology as it has done in adult psychopathology during the past two decades. We view this chapter as much closer to the first word than the last word on the integration of behavioral genetics into developmental psychopathology. Current research relevant to this incipient interdiscipline rarely meets the criteria for a developmental psychopathology perspective (Cicchetti, 1989), which includes a focus on the interplay between normal and abnormal development and consideration of processes by which risk factors lead to emergence of disorders throughout the life-span (Cicchetti, 1984; Rutter, 1988). The goal of this chapter is to show that the potential impact of quantitative genetics on developmental psychopathology is enormous. We also abstract some general themes relevant to the application of genetics to developmental psychopathology in order to guide the exploration of this largely uncharted territory. Nonetheless, at this early stage of research, it is necessary to consider nondevelopmental research as well, which we refer to as research in child or adult psychopathology rather than developmental psychopathology. In addition, despite our commitment to a life-span perspective, we emphasize research with children because of our special interest in this part of the life-span and because developmental changes are more dramatic than later in the life-span.
