Textbook of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Unrivaled in its thoroughness, this volume discusses issues of assessment and evaluation; examines the etiology of ASD and its recognized associations with other medical conditions; analyzes standard and experimental treatments; and delves into social policy issues pertinent to individuals with ASD and those who treat them.

More than 40 years after the official recognition of infantile autism in DSM-III, numerous questions remain about autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—its possible causes, assessment, and most effective treatments.

This second edition of the Textbook of Autism Spectrum Disorders features contributions from dozens of experts as it reviews the latest research on these topics and more.

As ambitious in scope and exhaustive as the preceding edition, this guide is organized by sections that tackle: • Assessment and evaluation, including recognizing the lower- and higher-order repetitive behaviors characteristic of ASD, as well as its comorbidities. Chapters also discuss the roles that racial and ethnic disparities, gender and sexual identities,and biomarkers and technology—including smart home devices and augmented reality technology—can play in assessment and evaluation.• The possible causes of autism, from prenatal, perinatal, and parental risk factors to syndromic causes of ASD, updates on genetic testing, and the effect of environmental factors and immune dysregulation.• Standard and experimental treatments in autism. Chapters analyze the role of pharmacotherapies such as serotonergic antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, and experimental therapeutics (e.g., oxytocin, vasopressin) as well as the use of cannabis, cannabinoids, and immunomodulatory agents. The book also examines behavioral treatments, interventions in schools, complementary and integrative medicine approaches, stem cell and gene therapies, and more.• Social policy issues, including the role of patient advocacy groups in treatment development and an examination of autism strengths and the growing emphasis on recognizing neurodiversity.

Unrivaled in its thoroughness, the book includes summary points in each chapter for ease of reference and lists of recommended readings that offer readers the opportunity for further study and exploration. For all those in the ASD continuum of care—psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, social workers, speech therapists, educators, and patient families—this is an essential resource.

ForewordPART I: Assessment, Evaluation, and Target SymptomsPART IA: Assessment and EvaluationChapter 1. EpidemiologyChapter 2. Psychiatric Assessment and TreatmentChapter 3. Pediatric and Neurological AssessmentsChapter 4. Gender Dysphoria, Gender Incongruence, and Sexual IdentityChapter 5. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Assessment and EvaluationChapter 6. Digital Biomarkers in Diagnostics and MonitoringPART IB: Target and Comorbid SymptomsChapter 7. Social CommunicationChapter 8. Diet and NutritionPART II: CausesPART IIA: OverviewChapter 9. Genetics and GenomicsChapter 10. EpigenomicsChapter 11. Prenatal, Perinatal, and Parental Risk FactorsChapter 12. Animal ModelsChapter 13. Electrophysiological StudiesChapter 14. Environmental Toxicity and Immune DysregulationPART IIB: Syndromic CausesChapter 15. Overview of Syndromic Causes of Autism and Commonalities in Neurobiological PathwaysChapter 16. Fragile X Syndrome and Associated DisordersChapter 17. Tuberous Sclerosis ComplexChapter 18. 16p11.2 and Other Recurrent Copy Number Variants Associated With ASD SusceptibilityChapter 19. Rett SyndromeChapter 20. Prader-Willi SyndromePART IIC: Imaging and AnatomyChapter 21. Neuroanatomical FindingsChapter 22. The Amygdala in ASDChapter 23. Neurobiology of ASD Informed by Structural Imaging ResearchChapter 24. Positron Emission TomographyChapter 25. Functional Magnetic Resonance ImagingPART III: Treatments and InterventionsPART IIIA: Standard Pharmacological TreatmentsChapter 26. Serotonergic MedicationChapter 27. AntipsychoticsChapter 28. Treating Hyperactivity in Children With Pervasive Developmental DisordersPART IIIB: Experimental TherapeuticsChapter 29. Complementary and Integrative ApproachesChapter 30. OxytocinChapter 31. VasopressinChapter 32. N-AcetylcysteineChapter 33. Arbaclofen: From Animal Models to Clinical TrialsChapter 34. Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Immunomodulatory AgentsPART IIIC: Behavioral and Educational InterventionsChapter 35. Behavioral TreatmentsChapter 36. Early Start Denver ModelChapter 37. The Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based Intervention Model: A Comprehensive Parent-Mediated ApproachChapter 38. School-Based InterventionsChapter 39. Language and Communication: Challenges and TreatmentsPART IIID: Future Treatment DevelopmentsChapter 40. Transcranial Magnetic StimulationChapter 41. Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Chapter 42. Gene Therapy and Molecular InterventionsPART IV: Consortiums, Employment, and AdvocacyChapter 44. Consortiums: Developing Precision Medicine Approaches to ASD Conditions Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials Interactive Autism NetworkChapter 45. Autism Strengths and NeurodiversityChapter 46. Role of Patient Advocacy Groups in Treatment DevelopmentIndex