In Recognition and Prevention of Major Mental and Substance Use Disorders, a team of distinguished participants addresses the problem of prevention of major mental and substance use disorders at many levels—from the DNA molecule to public policy—in order to show how prevention efforts should be informed by a better understanding of etiology and by a knowledge of indicators of vulnerability. The volume addresses issues that are critical precursors to the prevention of mental disorders and offers an understanding of factors that contribute to the disorders' development.

The contributors review genetic methodologies and current findings in mental disorders and show how biological and psychosocial environmental variables may affect vulnerability. Chapters devoted specifically to lessons in prevention drawn from recent research into schizophrenia discuss the implications of prodromal studies and relationships between stress, critical periods, and the development of the disorder. The book includes contributions from NIH representatives on how basic scientific understanding of mental disorders can be translated into public policy. It also features chapters that describe cutting-edge projects in prevention research for Alzheimer's disease, drug dependence, antisocial behavior, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Each chapter reviews clinical implications, contributing to a volume that will benefit clinicians and researchers who share the goal of preventing these debilitating conditions.