Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for Autistic Disorder

Approximately 25 cases per year are new cases of Asperger syndrome, and around 50 per year are new cases of Autistic disorder in the US. On average, 3.8 cases of Asperger syndrome are diagnosed per year in this population, and 4.1 cases of Autistic disorder are diagnosed per year for this population. These numbers seem to be consistent with the approximate rates of autism spectrum disorder in the general US population. There is a need for more study on the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in the US population as this prevalence may be higher than previously thought.

No clear cause of autism exists, but some authors argue that autism spectrum disorder would not have been as special as it is without early intervention.\n

No evidence exists that ASD can be cured, and no such cure has been suggested in the literature to date. ASDs are often associated with other conditions, so treatment is often recommended at a time when it is too late to influence the outcome of these other conditions, and treatment in the immediate aftermath of ASD diagnosis does not improve the child's social skills or quality of life. Further research is needed to determine which conditions are most strongly associated with ASD.

Many of the symptoms of Asperger syndrome and the features of PDD-NOS share some characteristics, in particular a high-functioning form in young children, an onset typically before 4 years, a preference for social over tactile stimulation and an unusual interest in non-verbal communication. The spectrum of spectrum may include autism-spectrum disorders as a subgroup. More information is needed on whether these conditions may be on the same spectrum, a spectrum of conditions or different conditions.

Patients usually complain of poor attention, difficulty with interpersonal skills and social interaction, and trouble with repetitive behaviors and other restrictive behaviors. Autistic parents may recognize signs of the disorder in the development of their children more often than is commonly recognized or reported. In addition, there are no accurate screening instruments to identify autistic children. At present, the best we can do is follow the child closely to identify the signs of autism. [Read more...

There is little evidence to support the use of many common treatments for ASD, including psychoeducation, the use of special education programs, behavioral therapy, and behavioral, physical, and occupational therapy. There is no evidence that certain programs or treatments are more effective at preventing ASD than others; all programs appear to be equally effective in the long term. In the absence of high-quality evidence as to the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of treatments for ASD, clinicians may choose to use a variety of evidence-based interventions, using the most effective available.

Data from a recent study is, to our knowledge, the first to explore the impact of CBT on AQoL in this population. We found significant and clinically meaningful improvements in AQoL scores for the CBT group. Further research is needed to fully understand the nature of these effects and to compare them to those reported for other treatments for ASD. The CBT process had profound effects on the families of individuals with ASD, both in how they perceived their child's AQoL and in their ability to cope with daily demands on their functioning.

Current available evidence suggests that most children, teenagers, and adults with ASD meet the criteria for clinical trial participation. It is crucial to find methods of recruiting and retaining children into clinical trials to test many proposed hypotheses. Further research should focus on development of tools for identifying the strengths of ASD.

Recent findings shows that CBT has no more than minimal side effects, even among very disturbed children. Although some of the effects are statistically important, they are of low clinical importance. Most parents do not report such effects on their own children. The positive effects of CBT should also be considered in their treatment.

Individuals with ASD show no evidence that the average age diagnosed with ASD is earlier or later than other disorders like ADHD comorbidity, epilepsy, or psychosis. (See Autism Spectrum Disorders, P. 1296.

This protocol of CBT for autism did not improve the treatment of autistic disorder and showed limited benefit for cognitive outcomes. Future studies utilizing this protocol can evaluate the most effective format for CBT in the treatment of autism. summary: Results from a recent clinical trial evaluated effectiveness of a computerized CBT program for people with autism.