Mental disorders cost the United States over $72 billion for treatment, related support and lost productivity each year - yet funding for prevention of such disorders has been inconsistent due, partly, to lack of confidence in the effectiveness of specific prevention programmes. This book highlights some of the most effective prevention programmes and offers a common set of principles to reduce maladaptive behaviour.

Following an overview of United States prevention history and a description of how to operationalize George Albee's incidence formula, contributors then focus on: programmes that increase parent-child interaction and parenting ability; preschool programmes, such as those which use parents as teachers, others which centre on quality child care, and programmes which develop problem-solving abilities in early childhood; and school-age programmes ranging from interventions in school settings to developing social competency and job readiness. Finally, contributors examine prevention interventions aimed specifically at unemployment and depression in adulthood.