Lifespan Treatment for Autistic Individuals A Guide to Evidence-Based Practices

In a world filled with hundreds of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) treatments, it is crucial to distinguish between evidence-based practices and ineffective and potentially harmful pseudoscientific approaches. For the former, we know what outcomes to expect, how to deliver procedures with fidelity and, ideally, costs of implementation versus benefits. Unfortunately, many treatments have not been similarly evaluated and the potential for wasted resources and direct harm to patients remains unknown. Interpreting ASD treatment research is complicated by differences in research norms across disciplines, competing theoretical underpinnings, and misleading information available from media sources. Overall, these issues contribute to a gap between the outcomes demonstrated in scientific studies and what is achieved in applied settings (e.g., schools, homes and clinics).

Lifespan Treatment for Autistic Individuals guides professional practitioners in the selection of treatments that are procedurally and ethically best suited for their individual clients. As systematic reviews, authoritative statements, and new practice guidelines continue to emerge but are usually nested within specific disciplines, this meticulously curated volume bridges the gap between scientific research and practical application in the realms of psychology, education, and medicine. Chapter authors detail the application of included treatment approaches by providing a concise description, and essential elements and considerations for each option. Systematically identified treatment approaches are evaluated against EBP standards by recognized experts absent any proprietary or conflicting interests in the treatment. Within these pages, the editors offer content designed to empower a wide range of scholars, practitioners, and other stakeholders interested in enduring positive and efficient treatment outcomes for ASD.

Peter Sturmey is Professor of Psychology at The Graduate Center and the Department of Psychology, Queens College, City University of New York. He specializes in autism and other developmental disabilities, especially in the areas of applied behavior analysis, dual diagnosis, evidence-based practice, and staff and parent training. Professor Sturmey has published 32 edited and authored books, over 225 peer reviewed papers, over 80 book chapters and made numerous presentations nationally and internationally, including recent presentations in Canada, Brazil, Ireland and Italy. His research focuses on developing and evaluating effective and efficient ways of training caregivers using modelling and feedback to use applied behavior analysis with children and adults with autism and other disabilities.

Russell Lang Ph.D., BCBA-D is a Professor of Special Education and a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). He is the Director of the Clinic for Autism Research Evaluation and Support at Texas State University. Dr. Lang has published four books as well as more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters in the areas of applied behavior analysis, special education, developmental disability, and evidence-based practice standards. He currently serves as an Editor-in-Chief for Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Evidence-Based Practices in Communication Assessment and Intervention. He serves on editorial boards of 12 peer-reviewed journals including American Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and Learning Disabilities Quarterly. He is the former editor-in-chief of Developmental Neurorehabilitation and a former Associate Editor for Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities and Journal of Child and Family Science.

James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D is a licensed psychologist, diplomat in cognitive and behavioral psychology (ABPP), and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA-D). He is currently Director of Clinical Development and Research at Melmark New England and Adjunct Faculty within the School Psychology Program at William James College. Dr. Luiselli has published 19 books, 50 book chapters, and more than 280 journal articles in the areas of applied behavior analysis, organizational behavior management, performance improvement, professional training, and clinical practice. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Child and Family Studies, and on the Board of Editors of Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Mindfulness, and Clinical Case Studies.

Chapter 1. Lifespan Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Introduction
Peter Sturmey, Russel Lang, and James K. Luiselli
Chapter 2. Antecedent Interventions
Lee Kern, Elise Settanni, and Jennifer Croner Lauriello
Chapter 3. Differential Schedules of Reinforcement
Charlene N. Agnew, Mirela Cengher, and Henry Roane
Chapter 4. Prompting, Errorless Learning, Time Delay, and Reinforcement
David Ray Miranda, John Augustine, and & Mandy J. Rispoli
Chapter 5. Punishment-Based Behavioral Interventions
Olive Healy, Aoife McTiernan, Lorna Barry, Aoife Ryan, Jennifer Holloway, and Rhona Dempsey
Chapter 6. Response Interruption and Redirection
Haley M. K. Steinhauser, and William H. Ahearn
Chapter 7. Matched Stimulation
John T. Rapp, Daniel J. Sheridan, and Ashley N. Anderson
Chapter 8. Imitation-based Interventions: Modeling, Video Modeling, Self-Modeling
Reem Muharib and Elizabeth Reyes
Chapter 9. Behavioral Skills Training
Raymond G. Miltenberger, Jennifer L. Cook, and Rasha R. Baruni
Chapter 10. Self-Management Interventions
Amarie Carnett, Sophia Kennedy, and Siobhan Gardner
Chapter 11. Functional Communication Training
Jennifer Hamrick and Terry S. Falcomata
Chapter 12 . Discrete Trial Teaching
Mary Jane Weiss, Julia L. Ferguson, Alan Kinsella, Eilis O'Connell-Sussman, & and Britany Melton
Chapter 13. Enhanced Milieu Teaching
Ashley E. Hinten, Cara E. Petrofes, and Laurie McLay
Chapter 14. Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention for Autism
Lily Stadlober, Angela Arnold-Saritepe, Katrina Phillips, Rebecca Sharp, Victor Rodríguez García, Eric Larsson, Aida Tarifa-Rodriguez, Suzanne C. Purdy, and Javier Virues-Ortega
Chapter 15. Pivotal Response Treatment
Lynn Kern Koegel, and Fereshteh Mohammadzaheri
Chapter 16. Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions
Kyle M. Frost, Diondra Straiton, Sarah R. Edmunds, Melissa Maye, and Katherine Pickard
Chapter 17. LEAP Preschool
Phillip S. Strain, and Edward Bovey
Chapter 18. Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge:
Relational Training System (PEAK)
Jordan Belisle, Yi Zhihui, Meredith Matthews, and Mark R. Dixon
Chapter 19. Social Skills Training
Erin Kang, Mary Isaac Cargill, Sadaf Khawar, Britney Jeyanayagam, Rachel G McDonald, and Matthew D. Lerner
Chapter 20. Exposure Therapy for Anxiety or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Adapted for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Johann M. D'Souza, Allie N. Townsend, Kristen H. Erps, Leandra N. Berry, Sophie C. Schneider, Andrew G. Guzick, and Eric A. Storch
Chapter 21. Acceptance and Commitment Training
Thomas G. Szabo, and Celia Heyman
Chapter 22. Mindfulness and Mindfulness-Based Interventions
Yoon-Suk Hwang and Nirbhay N. Singh
Chapter 23. Anger Management and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Peter Sturmey
Chapter 24. Robotics and Virtual Learning
Matthew Roberts, An-An Chang, Eric McCoy, Hunter King, Aaron J Fischer and Ellie Kazemi
Chapter 25. Movement-based Interventions
Sudha M. Srinivasan, and& Deborah J. Bubela
Chapter 26. Music Therapy
Marc J. Lanovaz, Ioulia Koniou, and& Eve-Marie Quintin
Chapter 27. Multisensory Environments
Jennifer Stephenson and, & Mark Carter
Chapter 28. Alpha Two Agonists in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Erin A. Henneberry and, & Craig A. Erickson
Chapter 29. Mood Stabilizers Aand Antiepileptics
Shoumitro (Shoumi) Deb, Meera Roy, and& Bharati Limbu
Chapter 30. Melatonin for Sleep Problems
Camille Blouet, Edgar Moussaoui, and Fabian Guénolé
Chapter 31. Naltrexone and Self-Injury: Yesterday's Miracle Drug May Still Sometimes Be Helpful
Peter Sturmey
Chapter 32. Secretin: The Unfulfilled Promise
Beth Johnson, Mark Bellgrove, and Katrina Williams
Chapter 33. Cannabis
Laura Fusar-Poli, Cecilia Guiot, Davide Marisca, Udi Yehuda Levi, Pierluigi Politi, and Natascia Brondino
Chapter 34. Dietary Interventions for Treating Symptoms Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Haifa Batarseh, Suhad AbuMweis, and Janet DeLany
Chapter 35. Electroconvulsive Therapy
Lee E. Wachtel and James K. Luiselli
Chapter 36. Research-Based Professional Development for Educators who Teach Students on the Autism Spectrum
Matthew E. Brock
Chapter 37. Parent Training and Family Support
Kelly M. Schieltz, Matthew J. O'Brien, Jessica E. Graber, and Alyssa N. Suess
Chapter 38. Ineffective and Harmful Treatments
Elizabeth M. Kryszak and& James A. Mulick