GENETICS, EPIGENETICS, GENOMICS, AND DYNAMIC NEUROIMAGING: RESEARCH BASE FOR CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY?

Objectives: The objective of this symposium is to review the research foundation of CAP in light of 21st century science. Several "sciences of interaction" have emerged in the final decade of the 20th century that are applicable to understanding the etiology and developmental trajectory of disorders that present in childhood and adolescence, as well as providing methodology for studying biologically the effect of new treatment paradigms. Methods: 1) Dr. Matthew State presents on moving fromgenes to neurobiology in neurodevelopmental disorders; 2) Dr. Kevin Pelphrey presents on building a social neuroscience of ASD; 3) Dr. Frances Champagne presents on the translational approaches to prenatal epigenetic effects on brain development and behavior; 4) Stephen Suomi presents behavioral, biological, and epigenetic consequences of early social experiences -- possible mechanisms for cross-generational transmission; and 5) Dr. James Leckman provides the discussion. Results: 1) Dr. State reviewed genetic findings and key biological abnormalities with respect to ASD and schizophrenia; 2) Dr. Pelphrey described neuro-imaging-based research stratification biomarkers that accurately predict responses of young children with ASD to behavioral treatment; 3) Dr. Champagne reported specific epigenetic responses to prenatal exposure to maternal stress and toxins; 4) Dr. Suomi described cross-generational transmission of behavioral and biological characteristics as a consequence of early social experience; and 5) Dr. Leckman discussed the multiple research strategies and associated findings presented in the context of an ongoing scientific foundation for CAP. Conclusions: Genetics, epigenetics, genomics, dynamic neuroimaging, and other sciences of interaction, in the overall context of an ethological perspective, provide a sound research base for child psychiatry in the 21st century.