Americans are "healing themselves" (Heckler, 1985) and prevention has taken root (McGinnis, 1985a). We are altering our lifestyle to reduce physical and mental health risks. Perhaps as important is the fact that the science of prevention is beginning to catch up with the practices of prevention, although some might argue that the popularity of these practices far outstrips sound theoretical and empirical foundations. The chapter authors in this volume examine the theoretical and empirical foundations of many current prevention practices and, where data exist, discuss the status of prevention efforts. Where substantial prevention is not yet on the horizon, the authors attempt to point us in the right direction or at least share with the reader some of the risk factors that should be addressed in our research. We hope that readers will be stimulated to discuss the issues raised, advance the current research, and, where possible, adopt the prevention and health promotion strategies that are supported by sound theoretical and empirical work. This volume can in no way be comprehensive with respect to the current work in prevention; however, we hope that we have provided a sampling of prevention activities and issues that appear together in one volume for perhaps the first time. The primary intent of this volume is modest, and the reader should not attempt to find continuity among the various chapters. The only binding among these contributions is their focus on prevention.

1 Methodological Issues in Prevention.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Methodological Issues.- 3. Future Directions.- 4. References.- 2 Genetic Factors in Psychopathology: Implications for Prevention.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Review of the Literature on the Genetics of Psychopathology.- 3. Genetic Markers.- 4. Biological Markers.- 5. Biobehavioral Markers.- 6. Genetic Markers and Prevention.- 7. Genetics and Prevention/Intervention in Psychiatric Disorders.- 8. Conclusion.- 9. References.- 3 Prevention during Prenatal and Infant Development.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Historical Foundations.- 3. Current Issues.- 4. Summary.- 5. References.- 4 Prevention of Developmental Disorders.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Infantile Autism.- 3. Developmental Dysphasia.- 4. Developmental Dyslexia.- 5. Attention Deficit Disorder.- 6. References.- 5 Prevention of Achievement Deficits.- 1. Identification.- 2. Problems and Prospects.- 3. Intervention.- 4. Preventive Projects.- 5. Outcomes.- 6. Conclusion.- 7. References.- 6 Prevention of Childhood Behavior Disorders.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Prevention Necessitates Prediction.- 3. Identification of High-Risk Populations.- 4. Criteria for Evaluating Preventive Interventions.- 5. Possible New Prevention Targets.- 6. Summary and Directions for Future Research.- 7. References.- 7 Promoting Children's Social Skills and Adaptive Interpersonal Behavior.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Rationale for School-based Preventive Interventions.- 3. An Educational Model for Promoting Adaptive Social Behavior.- 4. Coaching Isolated Children in Social Skills to Improve Interpersonal Relations: Secondary Prevention Efforts.- 5. Classroom-based Social Problem-solving Training: Primary Prevention Efforts.- 6. Integrating Coaching and SPS Intervention Research: Summary and FutureDirections.- 7. References.- 8 Prevention of Marital and Family Problems.- 1. Historical Review.- 2. Recent Advances.- 3. Current Issues.- 4. Future Directions.- 5. Summary and Conclusion.- 6. References.- 9 Prevention of Crime and Delinquency.- 1. Diversion.- 2. Family Violence.- 3. Competence Building.- 4. Effective Discipline Techniques.- 5. Situational Crime Prevention.- 6. Future Directions.- 7. References.- 10 Prevention of Schizophrenic Disorders.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Theory and Review of Literature.- 3. Current Issues.- 4. Future Directions.- 5. References.- 11 Efforts to Prevent Alcohol Abuse.- 1. Prevention: A National Priority?.- 2. Prevention of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Drunk Driving.- 3. Price and Consumption.- 4. Drinking Age and Consumption.- 5. Alcohol Education and Prevention.- 6. Prevention in the Workplace.- 7. A Final Word.- 8. References.- 12 Prevention of Oral Diseases.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Theory and Review of Literature.- 3. Methods for the Prevention of Dental Caries.- 4. Methods for the Control of Periodontal Diseases.- 5. Methods for Preventing Oral Cancer.- 6. Concluding Comments: Available Preventive Procedures.- 7. Recent Advances.- 8. Current Issues and Future Directions.- 9. Summary and Conclusion.- 10. References.- 13 Behavioral Approaches to Primary and Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease.- 1. Weight and Cholesterol.- 2. Physical Activity and Exercise.- 3. Cigarette Smoking.- 4. Type A Behavior.- 5. Final Comments.- 6. References.- 14 Prevention of Cancer.- 1. The Controllable Risk Factors for Cancer.- 2. Smoking and Cancer.- 3. Diet and Cancer.- 4. Alcohol and Cancer.- 5. Occupational Exposures and Cancer.- 6. Other Risk Factors for Cancer.- 7. References.- 15 Injury.- 1. Ten Technical Strategies for Injury Control.- 2. Implementation Strategies.- 3. Conclusion.- 4. References.- 16 Prevention of Environmental Problems.- 1. An Overwhelming Problem.- 2. What Can Be Done?.- 3. A Behavior Change Approach to Environmental Protection.- 4. Antecedent Strategies for Environment Preservation.- 5. Consequence Strategies for Environment Preservation.- 6 An Ecological Perspective.- 7. Communitywide Intervention for Environment Preservation.- 8. References.