ESCAP practice guidance for autism: a summary of evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Across Europe, there is increased awareness of the frequency and importance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is now recognised not only as a childhood disorder but as a heterogeneous, neurodevelopmental condition that persists throughout life. Services for individuals with autism and their families vary widely, but in most European countries, provision is limited. In 2018, European Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ESCAP) identified the need for a Practice Guidance document that would help to improve knowledge and practice, especially for individuals in underserviced areas. The present document, prepared by the ASD Working Party and endorsed by the ESCAP Board on October 3, 2019, summarises current information on autism and focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and treating this condition.

The Importance of Early Psychological Assessment for Differential Diagnosis and Detection of Comorbidity in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…An indisputable fact, reported by research and in clinical practice (1,3,9,27), is that individualized interventions are of crucial importance for the improvement of many aspects, such as communication skills (including speech as an important predictor of better prognosis), cognitive capacity, etc. In addition, such interventions contribute to reducing the severity of symptoms and the level of stress in children, caregivers and their extended family.…”

“…Additional co-occurring difficulties are often reported, i.e., sleeping, eating and elimination problems, physical and sensory problems, emotional and behavioral difficulties, etc. ( 3 ). The fact that children are affected to a different degree by the disorder additionally supports the hypothesis for the existence of specific biogenetic factors, whose configuration and number are probably related to the variations in severity ( 4 ).…”

Evaluating the potential of respiratory-sinus-arrhythmia biofeedback for reducing physiological stress in adolescents with autism: a protocol for a randomized controlled study

“…In order to follow autism-specific treatment guidelines, all training sessions will be summarized and depicted in schedules (Fuentes et al, 2020). This way, the different phases are predictable, and the participants are able to follow each step by themselves.…”

Stakeholder Perspectives to Support Graphical User Interface Design for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study

“…Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a "heterogeneous, neurodevelopmental condition that persists throughout life" [1] (p. 1). Autism originates in childhood and is characterised by the presence of persistent difficulties in communication and social interaction and repetitive and restrictive patterns of behaviour, activities, and interests [2].…”