The book describes Project Prevention, an interdisciplinary project developed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, to identify risk factors for mental disorders and preventive interventions. After an introductory chapter, the following eight chapters cover: the scope of Project Prevention; children at high risk (e.g., children of psychiatrically ill parents); prevention of specific disorders--conduct disorders, learning disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide; implications for practice; outreach, public education and advocacy; the prevention curriculum; research; and ethics. A summary chapter identifies key conclusions including: (1) there is little support for universal vulnerability, except for post-traumatic stress syndrome; (2) strategies addressed to high-risk individuals rather than broad population groups are preferred; (3) high-risk strategies require the identification of children at risk; (4) more epidemiological and longitudinal research is required; (5) though primary prevention is generally not possible, opportunities exist to provide secondary and tertiary prevention; and (6) psychiatric professionals have a central role to play in prevention. Thirty-nine specific recommendations address education and outreach to community and professional groups, implementation of services, professional training, and research advocacy. Appended are lists of action steps for implementing recommendations, sources of financial support, and Project Prevention participants. Contains about 70 references. (DB)