Review of The Complexity of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Excerpt

The Complexity of Autism Spectrum Disorders (Wolff et al. 2018) is a comprehensive handbook that outlines our current understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The book begins with a brief background and history of diagnostic issues, from the discovery of ASD to the recent shifts in diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association 2000) to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association 2013). The authors then discuss approaches to assessing and diagnosing ASD, the neuroanatomical features and brain functioning associated with ASD, sex differences, and treatment models. The book then moves into a wide range of topics relevant to ASD including transitioning into adulthood, links to criminality, multicultural perspectives for assessment and treatment of ASD, occupational therapy, and special education. Additionally, the book includes a chapter on the practical, real-world implications of deficits in ASD such as theory of mind, executive functioning, and emotion regulation. The book concludes with personal narratives from a sibling of an individual with ASD and an adult who has successfully navigated growing up with ASD. These vignettes provide insight into the various challenges individuals with ASD and their families encounter while navigating education, assessment, and treatment. …