Course Description
The diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental disabilities. Course content will focus primarily on ASDs and highlight early identification, diagnosis, etiological theories (e.g., neurobiological), and treatment approaches, both traditional and controversial. Readings will involve classic reading and current empirical literature.
Athena Title
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Describe current working diagnostic criteria for ASDs/MR. 2. Describe & contrast current diagnostic methods for ASDs/MR. 3. Describe leading current etiological theories for ASDs/MR. 4. Describe current treatment approaches available for ASDs/MR and the degree of empirical support for each approach. 5. Identify current areas of controversy within the field of ASDs/MR and describe empirical findings relevant to each controversy.
Topical Outline
1. Classic (“Kanner”) autism and the autism spectrum. a. Defining features and associated characteristics. b. Kanner's (1943) initial clinical description. c. Introduction to current diagnostic criteria. d. The notion of an autism spectrum and disorders included in the spectrum. 2. Asperger’s syndrome. a. Asperger's (1944) initial clinical description. b. Current diagnostic criteria. c. Diagnostic controversies between high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome. 3. Assessment of autism and ASD. a. The comprehensive developmental approach to assessment. b. General components of assessment. c. Screening and early detection. d. Current “gold standards” in diagnosis of autism. e. Patterns of cognitive and adaptive functioning. f. Practice parameters for assessment and diagnosis. 4. Etiological theories of autism. a. Psychoanalytic. b. Sensory-Motor. c. Neurobiological theories. i. Whole brain findings. ii. Hemispheric findings. iii. Specific brain areas/structures (e.g., amygdala; orbital-medial prefrontal cortex). d. Behavioral theory. i. Inductive versus deductive paradigm. e. Theory comparisons and contrasts. 5. Behavioral treatments for autism. a. Introduction to behavioral therapies. b. Applied behavior analysis. i. Different types. ii. Lovaas' Young Autism Project: Findings/critique. c. Controversial behavioral techniques. i. Punishment. ii. Electric shock. d. Long-term outcomes for behavioral treatment. 6. Inclusion and behavioral/educational interventions with typical peers. a. Behavioral interventions. b. Educational interventions. i. Persuasion theory. 7. Pharmacological & Biologically-based treatments. a. Introduction to psychopharmacology. b. Review of process of neurotransmission. i. Sites of action for psychopharmacological agents. c. Review of psychopharmacological agents used with ASDs and MR. d. Other biologically-based therapies. i. Secretin - proposed mechanisms and evidence. ii. Fenfluramine - proposed mechanisms and evidence. 8. Introduction to mental retardation. a. Epidemiology, causes, variability. b. General introduction to diagnosis and treatment. c. Areas of assessment and diagnostic instruments. d. Approaches to intervention. 9. Mental retardation: Behavioral phenotypes and associated problems. a. Fetal alcohol syndrome. b. Fragile X syndrome. c. Down syndrome. d. Behavioral profiling. e. Psychopharmacological profiling.
Syllabus
Public CV