Sylia Wilson

Substance abuse and depression are common forms of mental illness that affect millions of people and families each year. Sylia Wilson uses twin, adoption, and family studies to understand the developmental processes that lead to mental illness and transmission through families. She integrates developmental, clinical, and neuroscience approaches to identify neurobiological and environmental risk for substance abuse and depression. By elucidating causal mechanisms, this research guides preventive-intervention efforts for children, adolescents, adults, and their families.