Toward a developmental family therapy: The clinical utility of research onadolescence

Tremendous advances have been made in our understanding of the intrapersona l, interpersonal, familial, and contextual characteristics and processes th at contribute to adaptive as well as maladaptive developmental outcomes wit h high-risk and clinically referred adolescents. This empirical knowledge b ase offers clinically rich opportunities for systematic treatment developme nt. An important step in this process is distinguishing which research find ings in basic science areas such as developmental psychology and developmen tal psychopathology might have clinical relevance Toward this goal, we revi ew relevant but selective research in areas that are central to clinical wo rk with adolescents (parent-adolescent relationship, biological aspects, an d affect and cognition), and we offer examples of how basic research in the se areas can inform treatment.