Autism Spectrum Disorders News

The AAP updated its clinical recommendations for autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, for the first time in 12 years, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention strategies and describing concomitant conditions like anxiety and ADHD.

As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder continues to rise in the United States, the supply of certified applied behavior analysis providers to match the demand for treatment has fallen significantly short, according to study findings published in Psychiatric Services.

Researchers have identified eight psychiatric disorders that share a common genetic structure, according to study results published in Cell.

DNA testing of siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder may help predict a future diagnosis, according to findings published in Nature Communications.

Cognitive behavioral therapy may be efficacious for treating anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder, according to results of a randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry. Researchers noted additional advantages with an adapted CBT approach.

Although the number of child psychiatrists in the United States increased 21.3% from 2007 to 2016, 70% of U.S. counties had no child psychiatrists during this period, according to results of a retrospective time-series analysis published in Pediatrics.

Fetal acetaminophen exposure may increase a child’s risk for ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, according to results of a prospective cohort study published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Research presented at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo highlighted a need for future studies of the impact of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, within the family unit over time. Potential interventions include family-centered approaches to address mealtime behavior and programs that focus on managing disruptive behavior, researchers reported.

PHILADELPHIA — Presenters at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo showcased a parent-mediated, group-based intervention called the Autism Managing Eating Aversions and Limited variety, or MEAL, Plan.

Patients with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring ADHD can safely and effectively take medication for ADHD, according to a study conducted in the Netherlands and published in Journal of Attention Disorders.