Community introduction of practice parameters for autistic spectrum disorders: Advancing early recognition.
OBJECTIVE
Within a strong interdisciplinary framework, improvement in the quality of care for children with autistic spectrum disorders through a 2 year implementation program of Practice Parameters, aimed principally at improving early detection and intervention.


METHODS
We developed Practice Parameters (PPs) for Pervasive Developmental Disorders and circulated the PPs to all child and adolescent psychiatrists practicing in the region.


RESULTS
PP development and parallel information strategies resulted in a significant decrease of 1.5 years in the mean-age-at-diagnosis. However, further analysis indicated that improvement was only transient.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the encouraging improvement in mean-age-at-diagnosis 2 years after PP implementation, other indicators showed a failure to maintain the improvements. A systematic screening program would be the most reliable method to reinforce the PPs.
Holzer
Laurent
L
Hôpital Nestle, Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent (SUPEA), Lausanne, Switzerland. Laurent.Holzer@inst.hospvd.ch
Mihailescu
Raluca
R
Rodrigues-Degaeff
Catherine
C
Junier
Laurent
L
Muller-Nix
Carole
C
Halfon
Oliver
O
Ansermet
François
F
D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*