title: Help across the spectrum: a developmental pediatrician's perspective on diagnosing and treating autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by marked deficits in social interaction and communication with unusually restricted interests, have a tremendous impact on society and are increasingly being diagnosed. Increased developmental screening, use of standardized diagnostic tests, and a broadening of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) criteria might account for the increased incidence. Evidence-based treatments for children with ASD, reviewed by the National Standards Project, are primarily behavioral interventions with foundations in the sciences of applied behavior analysis and developmental psychology and emphasize improved functional communication and social reciprocity.
authors.affiliation: Healing Pathways Medical Clinic, West Sacramento, California, USA. lecopeland372@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Copeland
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000639:trends*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs