Though autism is one of the best documented and validated childhood psychiatric syndromes, there remains an enormous gap between theoretical understanding of autism and understanding of it in the practice of daily life. This book aims to go some way towards bridging that gap. In common with visual or auditory impairments, the cause of autism is physical, biological and organic. Likewise, just as people with impaired sight or hearing need education and guidance specific to their needs, people with autism require specialized education and support matched to their particular difficulties. This book, aimed at the medical community and the teaching profession, introduces the medical background to autism and discusses current educational approaches to helping those diagnosed as autistic. The book sets out to inspire as well as to inform those involved with the medical or educational management of people with autism.

ESSENCE (Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations) refers to the group of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, ADHD and tic disorders as well as conditions gaining increasing awareness such as ARFID, PANS and PANDAS. Professor of child psychiatry Christopher Gillberg describes the lifetime prognosis of ESSENCE, examining the common co-occurrence between these conditions and the symptoms they present. Whilst diagnoses are often treated in isolation, Gillberg presents these issues as an overall condition, and advises treatment and support based on a holistic approach. This book also demonstrates the need for holistic whole-person interventions and assessments to improve outcomes for people within this group.

Autism is not a single disease but a syndrome of different diseases. In this completely reworked and updated third edition, two world authorities, Christopher Gillberg and Mary Coleman, address the difficulties this presents for clinical diagnosis with diagnostic aids and clear guidelines for medical evaluation. Epidemiology, neuropsychological studies and behavior complexes, such as self-injury, are reviewed in detail, and the authors give a detailed explanation of what is known about the molecular biology and genetics of autism. Epilepsy and electrophysiological studies are also covered, as well as biochemistry, endocrinology, immunology, brain imaging and neuropathology. The available medical therapies are reviewed, along with an update on what is known about other interventions, such as psychoeducational and behavioral modification procedures. The book concludes with an integration of current knowledge from diverse fields. This is an essential text for clinicians and will also be of interest to parents of autistic children.

Addressing the gender gap in the understanding of autism, this multi-perspective book explores the educational needs of girls on the autism spectrum from early years to secondary school, in both mainstream and special settings. The collection, comprising insights from autistic women and girls and educational and medical professionals makes recommendations for a collaborative and integrated approach that enables girls on the spectrum to reach their full potential. By establishing close collaborations between girls on the spectrum, their parents, teachers and specialist professionals, the field can move forwards in terms of providing understanding and an appropriate educational framework for success.

This important treatise reviews the latest clinical models for working with developmental disability and behavioral problems. In the first section contributions explore the causes and nature of behavior problems among people with physical, learning, language, and sensory disabilities, and such specific conditions as epilepsy and acquired brain damage, while those in the second section describe the assessment approaches for evaluating these behaviors. The third section covers treatment strategies emphasizing the importance of an eclectic approach. The contributors, all acknowledged experts in their fields of pediatrics, psychology, and psychiatry, provide a comprehensive overview of this set of major challenges, indicating the importance of auditory detection, understanding, measurement, and treatment.

Originally published in 2006, this authoritative clinical handbook provides a detailed overview of the main disorders encountered by child and adolescent psychiatrists in clinical practice, ranging from eating, sleep and affective disorders to substance abuse, gender identity disorder and sexual abuse. The approach is evidence based and emphasis is on good clinical practice and quality control of patient care. In contrast to other books in the field, the authors' intention is not to cover exhaustively all the relevant science, but rather to present in condensed form any research findings that are significant for clinical practice. For coherence, each chapter is constructed in the same way: introduction, definition and classification, epidemiology, the clinical picture, aetiology, treatment and outcome. The disorders covered are based on the ICD- 10 and DSM-IV classifications, and appendices include documents for assessment of intervention planning and evaluation.

Originally published in 2006, this authoritative clinical handbook provides a detailed overview of the main disorders encountered by child and adolescent psychiatrists in clinical practice, ranging from eating, sleep and affective disorders to substance abuse, gender identity disorder and sexual abuse. The approach is evidence based and emphasis is on good clinical practice and quality control of patient care. In contrast to other books in the field, the authors' intention is not to cover exhaustively all the relevant science, but rather to present in condensed form any research findings that are significant for clinical practice. For coherence, each chapter is constructed in the same way: introduction, definition and classification, epidemiology, the clinical picture, aetiology, treatment and outcome. The disorders covered are based on the ICD- 10 and DSM-IV classifications, and appendices include documents for assessment of intervention planning and evaluation.

Neuropsychiatry is a rapidly expanding field, linking the traditional areas of neurology and psychiatry, which has benefited greatly from recognition of the role of genetic and environmental determinants of psychiatric disorder particularly in childhood and adolescence. Based on twenty years of clinical experience and eighteen years of research, Professor Gillberg has utilised his unique and detailed interdisciplinary knowledge of neurobiology, pharmacology, epidemiology and neuropsychology to compile this comprehensive reference to clinical assessment and treatment of the many neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood which, at a conservative estimate, affect five in every hundred children. This is valuable reference resource that is sure to be welcomed by a wide range of professionals and researchers including child neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, speech therapists and special education teachers.

Individuals affected with Asperger Syndrome are often misunderstood and sometimes misdiagnosed when they apply for help. A Guide to Asperger Syndrome is an accessible handbook for all those touched by Asperger syndrome, one of the most common variants of disorders in the so-called autism spectrum. Christopher Gillberg, a world-renowned authority in the field, gives an in-depth account of symptoms, diagnosis, prevalence, background factors, prognosis, and intervention. This book is intended for a wide readership, including those affected, their families, and clinicians working with children, adolescents and adults with Asperger syndrome.