Professor van den Bree's research examines the developmental pathways of mental health. Her work focuses on the genetic and environmental factors that increase or decrease risk of the development of mental health problems in children and adolescents and the characterization of the underlying process.

She is interested in the manifestations associated with small chromosomal deletions and duplications. In addition to Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS), which is also known as 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS), her research also focuses on deletions and duplications in a number of other chromosomal regions.

Other research interests are the development of substance misuse in young people and factors contributing to, or exacerbating, risk of homelessness.

She also leads the effort to establish the impact on wider society of research conducted within her Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University.

D'Angelo, D.et al. 2016. Defining the Effect of the 16p11.2 Duplication on Cognition, Behavior, and Medical Comorbidities. JAMA Psychiatry 73(1), pp. 20-30. (10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.2123) Johnston, J., Linden, D. E. J. and Van Den Bree, M. B. 2016. Combining stress and dopamine based models of addiction: towards a psycho-neuro-endocrinological theory of addiction. Current Drug Abuse Reviews 9(1), pp. 61-74. (10.2174/1874473709666151209113913) Maillard, A.et al. 2015. 16p11.2 Locus modulates response to satiety before the onset of obesity. International Journal of Obesity 40(5), pp. 870-876. (10.1038/ijo.2015.247) Niarchou, M.et al. 2015. The clinical presentation of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B 168(8), pp. 730-738. (10.1002/ajmg.b.32378) pdf Hodgson, K., Shelton, K. H. and van den Bree, M. B. 2015. Psychopathology among young homeless people: Longitudinal mental health outcomes for different subgroups. British Journal of Clinical Psychology 54(3), pp. 307-325. (10.1111/bjc.12075) pdf Pesola, F.et al. 2015. The developmental relationship between depressive symptoms in adolescence and harmful drinking in emerging adulthood: the role of peers and parents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 44(9), pp. 1752-66. (10.1007/s10964-015-0295-z) Vorstman, J.et al. 2015. Cognitive decline preceding the onset of psychosis in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. JAMA Psychiatry 72(4), pp. 377-385. (10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.2671) Pesola, F.et al. 2015. The mediating role of deviant peers on the link between depressed mood and harmful drinking. Journal of Adolescent Health 56(2), pp. 153-159. (10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.10.268) Pesola, F.et al. 2015. The mediating role of deviant peers on the link between depressed mood and harmful drinking. Journal of Adolescent Health 56(2), pp. 153-159. (10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.10.268)