The main focus of the lecture is on the concept of developmental psychopathology (DP). The key features of DP are described, together with a mention of the pioneers, the past accomplishments of DP and the future challenges that have still to be met. Building on the concept of DP, the lecture ends with some suggestions on preparing for a career that includes research.

The five key features of DP are: 1) combining research into child development and that into child psychiatry; 2) a recognition that development is biological as well as experientiall; 3) a concern with salient developmental issues such as maturational change and environmental challenges; 4) an acceptance that there can be no single mechanism or theory; 5) a concern with both continuities and discontinuities over time and over the span of behavioural variation. DP applies across the lifespan and is intrinsic to both biology and medicine. The achievements of DP are noted with respect to the relevance of experiences and behaviour in childhood for adult mental disorders; the demonstration of the environmental mediation of risk effects; the demonstration of genetic effects on exposure and sensitivity to environments; the study of environmental effects on gene expression; the identification of age differences in susceptibility; the use of brain imaging to investigate risk and protective processes; and the identification of resilience. The challenges include the mechanisms involved in phase transitions in psychopathology; the direct and indirect pathways from a susceptibility gene to a particular phenotype; the relationships between brain and mind; the causal mechanisms involved in individual differences in responses to stress/adversity; and the meaning of age differences.

The lecture ends with suggestions for the formulation of research questions and for career plans. The needs include gaining skills, obtaining really good mentors, and joining a good research group. Carrying and using a notebook as a reminder of ideas is strongly recommended. Various illustrations are given on how to translate an idea into a testable hypothesis and then into a research plan. An iconoclastic approach is desirable and the lecture ends with a brief note on the concepts of science.