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Autistic spectrum disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Brian P Hallahan  and
Kieran C Murphy
Brian P Hallahan
Affiliation:
Beaumont Hospital and Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin 2, Ireland
Kieran C Murphy
Affiliation:
Beaumont Hospital and Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Abstract

Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), are a group of disorders characterised by qualitative abnormalities in social and emotional behaviour and are associated with restricted, stereotyped and repetitive interests and activities. There has been considerable understanding of ASD in recent years. This educational review paper focuses on four areas of interest and relevance to trainees preparing for the membership examination of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych): (a) diagnosing ASD; (b) epidemiology of ASD; (c) aetiology, including genetic, cognitive and neurochemical/neuropathological theories in ASD; and (d) treatment of ASD. Relevant papers are discussed and recommendations for further reading are provided.

Keywords

Autism spectrum disordersCognitive theoriesGeneticsNeuroanatomyTherapeutics
Type
Educational Review
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , December 2005 , pp. 137 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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