International Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Since the early 1940s, when first identified as childhood psychosis and autistic psychopathy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has continued to burgeon into a major focus of inquiry and interest among researchers, practitioners, and the public alike. With each passing decade, the number of scholarly articles addressing ASD and related disabilities continues to soar. Today, thousands of papers on autism are published annually across various disciplines and journals, making it challenging - if not impossible - to keep pace with, let alone synthesize, all the latest developments.

Based on a solid historical foundation of autism theory and research, the International Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders integrates the broad scholarly base of literature with a trenchant analysis of the state of the field in nosology, etiology, assessment, and treatment. Its expert contributors examine recent findings and controversies (e.g., how prevalent autism actually is), along with longstanding topics of interest as well as emerging issues.

Coverage includes:

• A survey of diagnostic criteria and assessment strategies.
• Genetic, behavioral, biopsychosocial, and cognitive models.
• Psychiatric disorders in persons with ASD.
• Theory of mind and facial recognition.
• Diagnostic instruments for assessing core features and challenging behaviors.
• Evidence-based psychosocial, pharmacological, and integrative treatments.
• Interventions specifically for adults with ASD.
• Training issues for professionals and parents.
• A review of findings of successful and promising therapies, coupled with guidance on how to distinguish between dubious and effective treatments.

The International Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders is an indispensable resource for researchers, professors, graduate students, and allied practitioners in clinical child and school psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, education, social work, rehabilitation, pediatric medicine, and developmental psychology.

Johnny L. Matson has spent his career as a researcher and academically involved in the training of doctoral level clinical psychologists specializing in developmental disabilities. He is the major professor of 48 Ph.D.s, many of whom have served as professors in major universities. He is founding editor and editor-in-chief of Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Research in Developmental Disabilities. He has authored over 600 publications, including 34 books and 16 tests. He previously served on the psychology and psychiatric faculties at the University of Pittsburgh. For the last 23 years he has been a professor at Louisiana State University. He is currently a Professor and Distinguished Research Master, and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology at Louisiana State University.

Peter Sturmey is Professor of Psychology at Queens College and The Graduate Center, City University New York and a member of the Learning Processes and Behavior Analysis and Neuropsychology doctoral programs at City University of New York. He has published over 150 articles and 15 books on developmental disabilities. His current research focuses on applied behavior analysis and staff and parent training.