Treatment of Autism: A Comprehensive Guide for Professionals

Reflecting significant advancements in understanding the causes of autism, the Clinical Manual for the Treatment of Autism provides clear, up-to-date, and evidence-based treatment approaches for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Diagnosis and Assessment

Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. The manual outlines a straightforward approach to diagnosing autism, recognizing that individuals may vary greatly in intelligence, language ability, disruptive behavior, and presence of comorbid disorders. It provides guidance on selecting the appropriate instruments for evaluation and testing, including examples and guidelines for individuals of all ages and levels of functioning.

Pharmacological Approaches

The manual evaluates the role of various medications in treating specific target symptoms and individuals, including:

• SSRIs and antidepressants: focusing on the rationale for their use and clinical trials in autism
• Anticonvulsants and mood stabilizers: used to treat disruptive behaviors and mood instability
• Conventional and atypical antipsychotics: emphasizing studies using random assignment to active and control treatments
• Cholinesterase inhibitors: focusing on cholinergic mechanisms and treatment experience in autism
• Stimulants and nonstimulants: for the treatment of pervasive developmental disorder accompanied by hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness

Psychosocial Treatments

In addition to pharmacological approaches, the manual presents a range of psychosocial treatments, including:

• Applied behavior analysis (ABA)
• DIR/Floortime approach
• Peer relationship interventions
• Educational approaches, based on the TEACCH program in North Carolina
• Complementary and alternative treatments, such as therapies targeting gastrointestinal function or the immune system, or the use of nutritional supplements

Emerging Trends and Future Directions

The manual explores promising new avenues of treatment, including medications that target the glutamate and oxytocin brain systems, to address issues related to cognition and social and language deficits.

Clinical Manual for the Treatment of Autism is an essential resource for a broad range of professionals, including psychiatrists, pediatricians, neurologists, psychologists, educators, and behavioral, speech, and occupational therapists. This comprehensive guide helps advance the care that people with autism receive.