Research adding specific genetic variance to data from preventative intervention studies, including PROSPER, has demonstrated that specific genetic variance can moderate intervention effects. This line of research takes advantage of one of the defining characteristics of preventative intervention trials: Random assignment to condition, which helps this work avoid rGE confounds. Findings from this line of research, known as “candidate gene by intervention” (cGxI) research, include that adolescents who were not at genetic risk based on their 5-HTTLPR status and who participated in a family-based intervention were less likely to initiate risk behaviors (e.g., including alcohol use) than adolescents at genetic risk attributed to 5-HTTLPR status (Brody, Beach, Philibert, Chen, & Murry, 2009). It is worth noting that this finding has been replicated (see Schlomer et al., in press).
