Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Karen L. Bierman, Ph.D., about her article on reducing adolescent psychopathology in socioeconomically disadvantaged children with a preschool intervention.

Dr. Karen Bierman is the Evan Pugh University Professor, Professor of Psychology, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, and Director of the Child Study Center at Penn State University. Her research looks at the design and evaluation of programs for social and emotional learning within schools and communities. She has also developed and evaluated group interventions for peer-rejected children.

How the author became interested in this area of research [1:58]
What we know about how exposure to chronic or unpredictable negative circumstances disturbs a developing brain [3:21]
Why the intersection of growing up in adverse conditions and the beginning of formal schooling is significant in the life of a child [6:41]
Objective of the study [7:54]
Outline of the Head Start REDI program [9:26]
Description of study participants [11:26]
How the authors collected and analyzed data [13:20]
How well did the intervention work in terms of reducing conduct problems, emotional symptoms, and peer problems among students? [14:31]
Other key findings of the study [17:21]
Did any results surprise the authors? [18:45]
Study limitations [20:26]
How this work fits in to the overall literature on this subject [22:21]
Implications this work has for public health policy [24:49]
Key points that researchers, clinicians, and other mental health professionals should take away from the article [26:31]
Recommendations for further research in this area [27:37]

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April 2021: Reducing Adolescent Psychopathology in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Children

American Journal of Psychiatry Audio