Table 2.

Recommendations for future research.

1. There is a need for standardized genotyping techniques in order to make data from different studies comparable. Minimum quality criteria would include genotyping success rate of 95% or higher and reporting of Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE), linkage equilibrium, or deviations of HWE

2. There is a need for standardized assessment of environmental factors, with more attention to gene–environment interactions (GxE) and gene–environment correlations

3. Future research should incorporate “differential susceptibility” or “plasticity” models in order to measure not only the presence/absence of disease or environmental stress but also the “positive” side of human functioning such as the subjective well-being and social support

4. There is a need to move away from candidate genes to general indices of vulnerability/susceptibility genotypes

5. There is a need for a transdiagnostic approach, congruent with the Research Domain Criteria approach, focusing on behavioral systems and pathways involved in GxE

6. There is a need for more studies on the neurobiological mechanisms involved, particularly in humans

7. There is a need to broaden the scope in terms of samples and environments (including culture and developmental context). This will necessarily lead to a greater need and emphasis on longitudinal studies

8. Given the evidence that genes seem to be involved in regulating the effects of environmental influences, further studies are needed investigating the role of genes in explaining response to psychosocial interventions

9. Since there is some evidence for gene–culture interaction in the prediction of social behavior, future studies should incorporate variables that measure cultural aspects, such as individualism/collectivism or ethnicity