Opportunities for prevention in the practice of psychiatry.

There are opportunities for prevention in the practice of general psychiatry that are often overlooked by the psychiatrist. The author discusses three groups that lend themselves to preventive efforts--the hospitalized mentally ill parent, children of depressed parents, and children of divorce. He also enumerates aspects of intervention that may result in opportunities for prevention. The application of research findings to individual situations may often result in change and improve the practice of psychiatry.