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Research Autism | Autism Interventions | Historical Perspectives on Causes and Treatment of Autism
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Print/View Whole Email A Friend Historical perspective on prevailing ideas about causes of autism and its treatment
Pre 1960’s
Autism thought to be psychodynamic i.e. caused by the mother’s emotional coldness
Autism poorly defined- little or no differentiation
Few specialist approaches
Autism regarded as a variant of schizophrenia
Post 1960’s
Psychodynamic theory debunked
Specialist education pioneered
Autism variously attributed to
Biomedical factors e.g. GI or allergies
Environmental factors e.g. toxins
Vaccines
Genetic factors
Predisposition
Functional neurodevelopmental factors
1970’s
Growth of interest in biomedical treatments
Specialist ‘autism specific’ education established
Growth in use of behavioural treatments
Growth in use of drugs
1980’s
Growing sophistication of behavioural treatments
Interest in autism specific approaches e.g. TEACCH imported from USA
Emergence of alternative approaches
More drugs
1990’s
Resurgence of interest in biomedical treatments
Generic application of structured autism specific approaches (e.g. growth of TEACCH )
Changes in way autism diagnosed
Growth of cognitive behavioural approaches
More drugs
Current situation
Renewed interest in biomedical explanations and treatments
Behavioural interventions (ABA ) remain popular
No shortage of new approaches – compelling anecdotal evidence-mostly unsupported
No drug for autism – but some medications for secondary effects or co morbidities may be useful
Growing application of cognitive behavioural approaches
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Last Updated : 21/07/2010
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