Anxiety disorders, including social phobia, occur often in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD; Gillott, Furniss, & Walter, 2001; Leyfer et al., 2006; Simonoff et al., 2008); however, little is known about the conceptualization and treatment of social phobia in this population. The current study presents the case of "James," a 6-year-old…

The current study aimed to review and evaluate a three-session psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic group programme for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The group programme was facilitated through an ASD diagnostic and intervention service within a Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Trust over a 12-month period,…

Little is known about the utility of psychoeducation within a stepped care model as applied to the problem of autism treatment. The current study developed and pilot tested a psychoeducational website for parents who recently had a child diagnosed with autism. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants design was used to evaluate the…

Autistic leading in four autistic children, aged three-five, was treated by strengthening pointing as an alternative form of request. Following intervention, pointing gradually replaced leading, and stimulus generalization was observed. Results indicate that functional equivalence and response efficiency can be procedurally combined to…

Describing the state of the science of ABA, this comprehensive handbook provides detailed information about theory, research, and intervention. The contributors are leading ABA authorities who present current best practices in behavioral assessment and demonstrate evidence-based strategies for supporting positive behaviors and reducing problem…

The paper traces the origins of the definitions of autism, notes controversies over its etiology, and discusses the wide variety of intervention approaches used. Psychoeducational approaches, such as play therapy and B. Bettelheim's psychoanalytic approach, are described and criticized in terms of premises and the anecdotal nature of evaluation…

The study, involving 15 autistic children (2-7 years old) and their families investigated the short term effects of a treatment model in which parents are trained as co-therapists in teaching developmental skills and behavior management. Literature was reviewed on models for treatment of autism, studies of treatment efficacy with autism, and…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of a residential program, based on the TEACCH model, in improving the program quality and adaptation of 32 adolescents and adults with autism and severe disabilities. Participants experienced an increase in structure and individualized programming in several areas, and the families were significantly more…