Sections
State of the Art | Comprehensive Treatment Approaches for Autism | Other Treatments for Specific Deficits | Pharmacotherapy | Conclusion and Future Research | References
Excerpt
In the past 5 years, a notable shift in the understanding
of autism treatment has resulted from publication of the National Research Council's (2001) book Educating
Children With Autism, which formulated treatment
guidelines based on a meta-analysis of existing empirical treatment
outcome studies in children up to age 8 years. The National Research
Council report emphasized several treatment quality parameters and can
be seen as serving to dispel the notion that one treatment is best
for all. Instead, treatments that are more individualized (in ways
we will discuss) provide a "best practice" standard.
In this chapter we focus on the National Research Council findings
and on specific comprehensive intervention models designed in a
manner consistent with these best practices; we also summarize the
state of the psychopharmacological art in treating autism.