Chair in Behavioural Genetics and Developmental Psychopathology.

Teaching

PS3027 Quantitative Behavioural Genetics and Developmental Psychopathology (Semester 2)

Research Interests

Behavioural Genetics and Developmental Psychopathology:

My primary research interests focus on (1) the role of the family as a context for understanding children’s normal and abnormal psychological development, (2) the genetic and neurobiological origins of children’s emotional and behavioural development and (3) practice and policy applications of research relating to family influences on children’s development.

I am presently involved in several ongoing longitudinal projects that map onto the above research areas. These include studies examining the interplay between genetic and family environmental factors on children's mental health, the early origins of childhood aggression and disruptive behaviour disorders, the long-term impact of domestic violence on children's psychological development and the implementation of effective intervention programmes aimed at assisting children in the context of parental separation and divorce.

Selected Publications

Mannering, A. M., Harold, G. T.,  Leve, L. D., Shelton, K. H., Shaw, D. S., Conger, R. D., Neiderhiser, J. M., Scaramella, L. V., & Reiss, D. (2011). Longitudinal associations between marital instability and child sleep problems across infancy and toddlerhood in adoptive families. Child Development, 84, 1252–1256. (pdf)

Harold, G. T., Rice, F., Hay, D. F., Boivin, J., Van, D. B. M., Thapar, A. (2010). Familial transmission of depression and antisocial behaviour symptoms: disentangling the contribution of inherited and environmental factors and testing the mediating role of parenting. Psychological Medicine, Sep 22:1-11 (pdf)

Leve, L. D., Harold, G. T., Ge, X., Neiderhiser, J. M., & Patterson, G. (2010). Refining intervention targets in family-based research: Lessons from quantitative behavioral genetics. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5, 516–526. (pdf)

Rice, F. J., Harold, G. T., Boivin, J., Hay, D. F., van den Bree, M. B. M., & Thapar, A. (2009). Disentangling prenatal and inherited influences in humans with an experimental design. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(7), 2464-2467.  DOI: 0808798106. (pdf)

Selected Research Projects

Harold, G. T., Thapar, A. (2009–2011). Disentangling the role of negative parenting from children’s attributions in the context of hostile inter-parental relations: implications for children’s mental health and the family justice system. The Nuffield Foundation (£165, 000).

Harold, G. T., Van Den Bree, M., Rice, F., Craddock, N., Thapar, A. (2007-2010). Family and genetic influences on children's psychological development. The Economic and Social Research Council (£174, 456).

Thapar, A., Rice, F., Harold, G. T., Craddock, Owen, M. Department of Psychological Medicine]. (2007-2012). Predicting and preventing adolescent depression. The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust (£992,318).

Harold, G. T. Development of a risk assessment Toolkit for use by CAFCASS CYMRU in cases relating to domestic violence and inter-parental conflict. Welsh Assembly Government (£80,000).

Thapar, A., Harold, G.T., Rice, F., Boivin, J., Hay, D. F. Van Den Bree, M. (2005 - 2008). Disentangling genetic, intrauterine and environmental influences on childhood psychopathology using a novel method. The Wellcome Trust (£385,700).

Harold, G. T. (2006-2007). Strengthening links between families and schools: An All-Wales feasibility study. Welsh Assembly Government (£21,700).

Hay, D. F., Goodyer, I., Thapar, A., Harold, G. T., Van Goozen, S. (2004 - 2009). Early Prediction of Violence. The Medical Research Council (£1.3 million).
Harold, G. T. (2005 - 2006). Children's exposure to domestic violence and their psychological development. The Economic and Social Research Council (£42,533).

Van den Bree, M., Thapar, A., Neale, M., Harold, G. T. (2004 - 2006). Familial and other risk factors for adolescent substance use and abuse. The Wellcome Trust (£87,431).

Harold, G. T., & Shelton, K. H. (2003). Marital conflict and children's psychological adjustment: An analysis across time and gender. The Economic and Social Research Council (£26,083).

Thapar, A., Boivin, J., Harold, G. T., Hay, D. F. (2002 - 2004). A novel method for disentangling the effects of genes, intrauterine and environmental risk factors. Wellcome Trust Showcase Grant (£125,000).

Harold, G.T. (2001-2002). Educating parents about the effects of interparental conflict on children. The British Academy (£14,294).