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PMID: 25835958 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study: overview of the first 40 years, with an eye to the future.

Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology ·Vol. 50 ·No. 5 ·2015-05-00 ·Pages 679-93

Poulton R, Moffitt TE, Silva PA

Abstract

The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study began more than four decades ago. Unusual at the time, it was founded as a multidisciplinary research enterprise, and was strongly supported by the Dunedin community, both professional and lay, in its early years. Seven research themes have evolved over the past 40 years focusing on mental health and neuro-cognition, cardiovascular risk, respiratory health, oral health, sexual and reproductive health, and psychosocial functioning. A seventh, more applied theme, seeks to maximise the value of the Study findings for New Zealand's indigenous people-Māori (or tangata whenua transl people of the land). The study has published over 1200 papers and reports to date, with almost 2/3 of these being in peer-reviewed journals. Here we provide an overview of the study, its history, leadership structure, scientific approach, operational foci, and some recent examples of work that illustrate the following: (a) the value of multidisciplinary data; (b) how the study is well positioned to address contemporary issues; and (c) how research can simultaneously address multiple audiences-from researchers and theoreticians to policy makers and practitioners. Near-future research plans are described, and we end by reflecting upon the core aspects of the study that portend future useful contributions.

MeSH Terms
Adolescent Adult Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology Child Child, Preschool Ethnicity Female Humans Longitudinal Studies Male Mental Health New Zealand Risk Factors Young Adult
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Poulton Richie
Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, [email protected].
Moffitt Terrie E
Silva Phil A
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Article Info
Journal
Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology
Abbr.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol
ISSN
1433-9285
DOI
10.1007/s00127-015-1048-8
Email
[email protected]
Published
2015-05-00
Epub
2015-00-03
Pages
679-93
Language
English
Region
Germany
NLM ID
8804358
PMCID
PMC4412685
Subset
IM
Grants
NIA NIH HHS · AG032282 · United States
Medical Research Council · G9806489 · United Kingdom
NIA NIH HHS · P30 AG034424 · United States
Medical Research Council · G0601483 · United Kingdom
Medical Research Council · MR/K00381X/1 · United Kingdom
Medical Research Council · G0100527 · United Kingdom
NIA NIH HHS · R01 AG032282 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/s00127-015-1048-8 PMC Full Text View journal details
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