title: Screening, intervention and outcome in autism and other developmental disorders: the role of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: We draw attention to a number of important considerations in the arguments about screening and outcome of intervention in children with autism and other developmental disorders. Autism screening in itself never provides a final clinical diagnosis, but may well identify developmental deviations indicative of autism-or of other developmental disorders-that should lead to referral for further clinical assessment. Decisions regarding population or clinic screening cannot be allowed to be based on the fact that prospective longitudinal RCT designs over decades could never be performed in complex developmental disorders. We propose an alternative approach. Early screening for autism and other developmental disorders is likely to be of high societal importance and should be promoted and rigorously evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden, elisabeth.fernell@neuro.gu.se.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernell
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Nouchine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hadjikhani
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bourgeron
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neville
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minnis
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillberg
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome