Behavioral Interventions for Anxiety in Children with Autism (BIACA) for Autism, Early Infantile

"Though rare, congenital abnormalities and environmental exposures are plausible contributing factors. More research is required in order to confirm whether environmental factors are causative in autistic disorder and its subgroups." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Autistic disorder can be effectively treated with a combination of behavioral therapies (e.g., RIT, ACT, and DIR) within a supportive clinical group. Further prospective research is urgently needed to confirm this finding, given the potential for long-term public health benefits. Given the high rates of comorbidity in autistic disorder, further investigation into potential comorbid mood and anxiety symptoms is also warranted." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Over 5.8 million children in the United States meet the criteria for autistic disorder and the prevalence continues to increase with age. The rates in females are double that in males and those diagnosed with autism do not live on the fringes of communities compared to autistic children of one or a low-income family status. Autism is a serious disability that can be a significant issue in the lives of a child's school and family members." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"There continues to be little consensus on the best treatment approach for this pervasive developmental disorder. However, a great deal is known about the effects of stimulants and antipsychotic medication on children with ASD; thus, other treatment options continue to be under investigation. There also continues to be little evidence on the most effective treatment strategy for ASD." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"In a non-clinical sample of individuals with autism spectrum disorder signs of ADHD include: inconsistent performance on tasks that involve sustained attention/inhibition, the presence of hyperactivity/impulsivity, a consistently low or a very high total IQ, a discrepancy in average total IQ between genders, in general, a lack of social skills, and the absence of a speech language. Signs of ADHD include a preference for self-stimulation, impulsivity, poor eye-to-hand coordination, social skills, and lack of social skills." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Autistic disorder is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder in adults characterized by impaired communication and social skills; a restricted and often restricted range of interests, with the breadth, persistence and intensity of such interests not varying significantly over time; and a restricted and often restricted range of repetitive or fixed behaviors. There is evidence for some degree of ASD in a significant number of people who present with intellectual disability. This article presents the diagnostic criteria for ASD. Further reading is suggested to better understand the complex nature of this disorder." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Behavioral approaches are associated with larger and greater effects than the placebo on all measures, and it is suggested that the results are related to a greater degree of change than a placebo group would be able to achieve from a usual treatment. Behavioral approaches are not only useful with children with autism, but they also provide a general means of facilitating change in anxious children." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"There have been many advancements in the treatment of ASD, although there is a lack of consensus on the best protocol for treatment of ASD. There have even been attempts of creating a single unified diagnostic guideline, but this method [of creating a single guideline] has not been 100% successful across the board (http://www.autism-awareness.org). There are many clinical trials that help us in developing more effective treatments, but we still need more in order to successfully treat individuals with ASD. Current treatments consist on medications, speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavior therapy, social communication and language, and instruction, but there is not any definitive treatment available for ASD (http://www.autism-research.net)." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"At present, there is very poor quality evidence regarding the effectiveness of behavioral interventions for children and young adults with ASD. There is very poor evidence for the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions and psychotherapy for children with ASD and high-functioning autism, but there is some support in the literature for behavioral interventions and behavior therapy (BIBT) for children with ASD with anxiety or depressive disorders." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"While the use of behavioral interventions for anxiety in children with autism is growing, there are few specific protocols. The findings from this study suggest that a biaca program is likely to be an effective approach to treating children's anxiety within an ASD clinic." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"The age of onset of an ASD is often around 3–4 years of age, [though] [newer studies] suggest this average onset age may be around 2 years. What is the average duration of the disorder? At least for those who are diagnosed earlier, the disability and distress related to the disorder declines less quickly than previously thought. Patients can live longer without being disabled." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Based on our systematic search, most parents and pediatricians reported that medication was their preferred first line behavioral intervention, and the few reported medication first line was primarily due to convenience. Parents and pediatricians are encouraged to engage in ongoing discussion and collaborate to agree on the most appropriate behavioral treatment for children with autism through biaca." - Anonymous Online Contributor