Core elements of developmental epidemiologically based prevention research

In the early 1990's, important progress was documented in prevention resear ch on mental and behavioral disorders, with recommendations for a preventio n research agenda. One of the earliest implementation efforts was the works hop, "A Scientific Structure for the Emerging Field of Prevention Research, " sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health and The Johns Hopkin s University Prevention Research Center, and held in Baltimore, Maryland, i n December of 1994. The purpose of the workshop was to merge three perspect ives from the traditionally disparate areas of epidemiology, life course de velopment, and intervention trials technology into an integrated interdisci plinary effort that would define a scientific structure enabling rapid adva ncement in prevention science. As a consequence of that workshop, the paper s were written that are contained in this and the next special issue on pre vention of the American Journal of Community Psychology. This first paper i s a description of the salient features of developmental epidemiologically- based prevention research. Beyond the above three perspectives. we discuss the role of development mental and intervention theories; measurement of im plementation, mediators, and moderators, including multi-stage sampling and measurement; the central role of multilevel growth modeling; concepts of a ttributable risk and prevented fraction; proximal/distal modeling and effec t sites; and partnerships between researchers and communities.