One approach in psychiatric research is to find out what differences between people put them at risk for mental health problems. Understanding these vulnerabilities helps in identifying key areas for intervention. Since psychiatric diagnostic categories do not align well with specific genetic, brain function, and behavioural measures, focus has recently shifted to the study of common mechanisms of ill health, which cut across diagnostic categories.

Some researchers have proposed that emotional lability may be one of these common mechanisms or risk factors. Emotional lability (EL) - emotional changeability, irritability and temper problems - is common in the general population. It is seen alongside a broad range of psychiatric illnesses, and in young people is associated with the development of mental health problems. However, not much is known about how emotional lability develops, how it relates to environmental risks, and what biological factors (genetic, cognitive and brain function) underpin it.

This exciting project will examine these poorly understood areas, to help us to understand the risks and impacts of emotional lability, and reveal potential avenues for intervention. Emotional lability will be examined in the ALSPAC study, a unique study of over 14,000 children born in the Bristol area, with around 6,000 followed up from birth into adulthood. This exceptional dataset includes mental health, genetic, environmental risk, and structural brain imaging information, and questionnaire and interview measures of emotional lability. Here, the project will examine environmental risks, longitudinal development, and brain imaging markers associated with emotional lability.