Can Genetics Predict Response to Complex Behavioral Interventions? Evidence from a Genetic Analysis of the Fast Track Randomized Control Trial.
Abstract
Early interventions are a preferred method for addressing behavioral problems in high-risk
children, but often have only modest effects. Identifying sources of variation in
intervention effects can suggest means to improve efficiency. One potential source
of such variation is the genome. We conducted a genetic analysis of the Fast Track
randomized control trial, a 10-year-long intervention to prevent high-risk kindergarteners
from developing adult externalizing problems including substance abuse and antisocial
behavior. We tested whether variants of the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 were
associated with differences in response to the Fast Track intervention. We found that
in European-American children, a variant of NR3C1 identified by the single-nucleotide
polymorphism rs10482672 was associated with increased risk for externalizing psychopathology
in control group children and decreased risk for externalizing psychopathology in
intervention group children. Variation in NR3C1 measured in this study was not associated
with differential intervention response in African-American children. We discuss implications
for efforts to prevent externalizing problems in high-risk children and for public
policy in the genomic era.
Type
Journal articleSubject
AdultAntisocial Personality Disorder
Behavior Therapy
Child
Child Behavior Disorders
Early Medical Intervention
Genetic Variation
Genome, Human
Humans
Internal-External Control
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Psychopathology
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Receptors, Glucocorticoid
Substance-Related Disorders
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Daniel W Belsky
Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences
The goal of Dan’s work is to reduce social inequalities in aging outcomes in the US
and elsewhere. Dan's research seeks to understand how genes and environments combine
to shape health across the life course. His work uses tools from genome science and
longitudinal data from population-based cohort studies. The aim is to identify targets
for policy and clinical interventions to promote positive development in early life
and extend healthspan.Areas of interest: Aging, health
Kenneth A. Dodge
William McDougall Distinguished Professor of Public Policy Studies
Kenneth A. Dodge is the William McDougall Distinguished Professor of Public Policy
and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. He is also the founding
and past director of the Center for Child and Family Policy, as well as the founder
of Family Connects International.
Dodge is a leading scholar in the development and prevention of aggressive and violent
beha
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