Autism Research between Psychology and Neuroscience

“This book brings a useful historical retrospective on ASD while combining it with the latest advances in the field today. The author looks at the future directions of research and treatment evolution, making this a book of future planning, not just an analysis of the past.” Loredana Al Ghazi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Educational Sciences, West University of Timisoara “This extraordinary book succeeds in its admirable goal of making complex material as simple as possible, but not simpler. It will impress readers with its breadth and depth, and excite them with its critical analysis and new perspectives.” Linda Gilmore, Adjunct Professor, School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology “An ingenious bridge between the neuropsychiatric and psychotherapeutic certainties of the past and the incessant research of the present, this book projects towards a refined and competent interdisciplinary approach.” Michele Rossena, President of the Italian Institute for Human Sciences This book offers an overview of the history, definitions, and treatments for autism spectrum disorders from 1943 to the present day. Bridging the gap between psychology and neuroscience through a rigorous reconstruction of eighty years of research, the author retraces the emergence of the definition of autism and the description of its characteristics, the history of the diagnosis and standardized classification of ASD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and the development of etiological research and therapeutic interventions in medical, psychoeducational, and alternative therapies. The content spans neurology, genetics, psychiatry, and medicine, integrating discoveries from different fields to shed light on relevant factors of the pathology and dynamics of ASD. A useful resource for students and researchers in psychology, psychiatry, special education, and healthcare, this book unveils the latest advances in the field of ASD and discusses the research agenda for the years to come, showcasing multidirectional approaches to improve the quality of life of autistic people. Michele Di Salvo is an expert in communication and language psychology, his research bridges the gap between psychology and neuroscience.