title: The good behavior game and the future of prevention and treatment.
abstract: The Good Behavior Game (GBG), a universal classroom behavior management method, was tested in first- and second-grade classrooms in Baltimore beginning in the 1985-1986 school year. Followup at ages 19-21 found significantly lower rates of drug and alcohol use disorders, regular smoking, antisocial personality disorder, delinquency and incarceration for violent crimes, suicide ideation, and use of school-based services among students who had played the GBG. Several replications with shorter followup periods have provided similar early results. We discuss the role of the GBG and possibly other universal prevention programs in the design of more effective systems for promoting children's development and problem prevention and treatment services.
authors: Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. skellam@jhsph.edu
authors: Sheppard G
authors: SG
authors: Kellam
authors: Amelia C L
authors: AC
authors: Mackenzie
authors: C Hendricks
authors: CH
authors: Brown
authors: Jeanne M
authors: JM
authors: Poduska
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Hanno
authors: H
authors: Petras
authors: Holly C
authors: HC
authors: Wilcox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D015142:Baltimore; D001519:Behavior; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D012951:Socialization; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology