As a division of the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at ChapeI Hili, TEACCH has always been involved in the latest biological research on autism and related developmental disabilities. However, until now there has not been sufficient information to justify aseparate volume on this most important topic. Recent advances both in our under standing of the brain and in the technology to facilitate the measurement of neurological functioning have stimulated significant growth, which is reflected in this volume. As with the preceding books in this series, Current Issues in Autism, this volume is based on one of the annual TEACCH conferences held in ChapeI Hili each May. The books are not simply published proceedings of the conference papers, however. lnstead, conference participants are asked to develop chapters around their presentations, and other international experts whose work is beyond the scope of the conference, but related to the major theme, are asked to contribute as weil. These volumes are intended to provide the most current knowledge and professional practice available to us concerning major issues in autism.

Now expanded to two volumes, this invaluable reference work provides a comprehensive review of all information presently available about these disorders, drawing on findings and clinical experience from a number of related disciplines such as psychiatry, psychology, neurobiology, pediatrics, etc. The Handbook covers descriptive and diagnostic characteristics, biological contributions, intervention techniques, legal and social issues. The Third Edition is updated to include the newest work in animal models, genetics, neuropsychological processes, screening and assessment methods.

International Review of Neurobiology

In the decade since the first edition of The Neurobiology of Autism was published, research has revealed valuable new information about the nature and origins of autism, including genetics and abnormalities in such neurotransmitters as acetylcholine and serotonin. For this long-anticipated new edition, neurologists Margaret L. Bauman and Thomas L. Kemper bring together leading researchers and clinicians to present the most current scientific knowledge and theories about autism. The contributors cover genetics, imaging studies, physiology, neuroanatomy and neurochemistry, immunology, brain function, the epidemiology of the disease, and related disorders. Thoroughly updated, The Neurobiology of Autism remains the best single-volume work on the wide array of research being conducted into the causes, characteristics, and treatment of autism. Contributors: George M. Anderson, Yale Child Study Center; Tara L. Arndt, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC); Trang Au, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMC); Jocelyne Bachevalier, University of Texas Health Science Center; Irina N. Bespalova, Seaver Autism Research Center, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (SARC); Gene J. Blatt, Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM); Susan E. Bryson, IWK Health Centre–Dalhousie University; Timothy M. Buie, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH); Joseph D. Buxbaum, SARC; Kathryn M. Carbone, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSM); Diane C. Chugani, Wayne State University; Daniel F. Connor, UMMC; Edwin H. Cook, Jr., University of Chicago; S. Hossein Fatemi, University of Minnesota Medical School; Susan E. Folstein, Tufts University School of Medicine; Eric Fombonne, McGill University; Randi Jenssen Hagerman, UC Davis Medical Center; Elizabeth Petri Henske, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia; Jeannette J. A. Holden, Queen's University; Ronald J. Killiany, BUSM; Omanand Koul, UMMC; Mandy Lee, Newcastle General Hospital, U.K.; Xudong Liu, Queen's University; Tara L. Moore, BUSM; Mark B. Moss, BUSM; Karin B. Nelson, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Phillip G. Nelson, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Elaine Perry, Newcastle General Hospital; Jonathan Pevsner, JHUSM; Mikhail V. Pletnikov, JHUSM; Stephen W. Porges, University of Illinois at Chicago; Lucio Rehbein, Universidad de la Frontera, Chile; Jennifer Reichert, SARC; Patricia M. Rodier, URMC; Beth Rosen-Sheidley, MGH; Susan L. Smalley, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Research Institute; Ronald J. Steingard, UMMC; Helen Tager-Flusberg, BUSM; Gary L. Wenk, University of Arizona; Andrew W. Zimmerman, JHUSM

Neurobiology of Brain Disorders: Biological Basis of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Second Edition provides basic scientists a comprehensive overview of neurological and neuropsychiatric disease. This book links basic, translational, and clinical research, covering the genetic, developmental, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying all major categories of brain disorders. It offers students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers in diverse fields of neuroscience, neurobiology, neurology, and psychiatry the tools they need to obtain a basic background in the major neurological and psychiatric diseases. Topics include developmental, autoimmune, central, and peripheral neurodegeneration, infectious diseases, and diseases of higher function. Organized by individual disorder, each chapter includes coverage of the clinical condition, diagnosis, treatment, underlying mechanisms, relevant basic and translational research, and key unanswered questions. This volume reflects progress in the field since publication of the first edition, with fully updated chapters, and new chapters on isolation, aging, global diseases, vascular diseases, and toxic/metabolic disease. New disorder coverage includes fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Restless Legs Syndrome, myasthenia gravis, and more. - Links basic, translational and clinical research on disorders of the nervous system - Covers a vast array of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Down syndrome, autism, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, TBI, Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, depression and pain - Features new chapters on the effects of aging and isolation on brain health - Expands coverage on disorders, including new chapters on fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and restless legs syndrome - Features in-text summary points, special feature boxes and research questions

This volume in the International Review of Neurobiology is a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art research into autism pathophysiology. Its chapters cover a wide range of etiologies, from genetics and development to environmental factors. In addition, it discusses key cell and behavioral phenotypes, including cortical and cerebellar phenotypes, as well as language and motor outputs. Finally, this volume's chapters on gene expression in the brain describe how genes may be connected to phenotypes in autism. - Broad coverage of genetic and cellular phenotypes in autism - Focused on basic research - Chapters primarily written by new investigators with a fresh perspective on the biological underpinnings of autism

The field of autism has been growing at an unprecedented rate in recent years. In addition to an actual rise in the number of classic DSM-IV cases, broadened diagnostic criteria have uncovered a wider range of autistic behaviors and ability levels. The third edition of this well-known text continues the mission of its predecessors--to present a comprehensive, readable, up-to-date overview of the field of autism, one that links research, theory, and practice in ways that are accessible to both practitioners and parents. Key features include: *Expanded Coverage--To accommodate the recent explosion of research, the book has been expanded from 11 to 14 chapters that examine the impact of autism on the individual and the family from infancy through adulthood. *Expertise--Internationally recognized experts offer cutting-edge treatment and educational information on topics such as early diagnosis, medical treatment, assessment, educational methods, language development, behavior regulation, and family support. *Neurobiological Research--Comprehensive medical research and treatment chapters provide an understandable overview of neurobiological research and current treatments including when and how medication can be employed as part of a treatment plan. *Focus on Early Years--Old sections I and III have been combined and a new 3-chapter section on early identification and intervention added. *Focus on Parents and Families--In addition to a chapter on the evolving role of families, a new chapter addresses family needs during the preschool years. *Integration of Assessment and Intervention--The chapters on assessment and intervention have been reorganized and more closely integrated in keeping with current thinking about their inter-relatedness. *Future Directions--Two chapters discuss emerging directions in this exploding field and how to make informed decisions among a variety of approaches. This book is appropriate for anyone--students, practitioners, or parents--who must provide care for an autistic child.

This new volume in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology presents a comprehensive review of the fundamental science and clinical treatment of psychiatric disorders. Advances in neuroscience have allowed for dramatic advances in the understanding of psychiatric disorders and treatment. Brain disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, are the leading cause of disability worldwide. It is estimated that over 25% of the adult population in North America are diagnosed yearly with at least one mental disorder and similar results hold for Europe. Now that neurology and psychiatry agree that all mental disorders are in fact, "brain diseases," this volume provides a foundational introduction to the science defining these disorders and details best practices for psychiatric treatment. - Provides a comprehensive review of the scientific foundations of psychiatric disorders and psychiatric treatment - Includes detailed results from genetics, molecular biology, brain imaging, and neuropathological, immunological, epidemiological, metabolic, therapeutic and historical aspects of the major psychiatric disorders - A "must have" reference and resource for neuroscientists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists as well as all research scientists investigating disorders of the brain

The new edition of this definitive textbook reflects the continuing reintegration of psychiatry into the mainstream of biomedical science. The research tools that are transforming other branches of medicine - epidemiology, genetics, molecular biology, imaging, and medicinal chemistry - are also transforming psychiatry. The field stands poised to make dramatic advances in defining disease pathogenesis, developing diagnostic methods capable of identifying specific and valid disease entities, discovering novel and more effective treatments, and ultimately preventing psychiatric disorders. The Neurobiology of Mental Illness is written by world-renowned experts in basic neuroscience and the pathophysiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. It begins with a succint overview of the basic neurosciences followed by and evaluation of the tools that are available for the study of mental disorders in humans. The core of the book is a series of consistently organized sections on the major psychiatric disorders that cover their diagnostic classification, molecular genetics, functional neuroanatomy, neurochemistry and pharmacology, neuroimaging, and principles of pharmacotherapy. Chapters are written in a clear style that is easily accessible to practicing psychiatrists, and yet they are detailed enough to interest researchers and academics.For this second edition, every section has been thoroughly updated, and 13 new chapters have been added in areas where significant advances have been made, including functional genomics and animal models of illness; epidemiology; cognitive neuroscience; postmortem investigation of human brain; drug discovery methods for psychiatric disorders; the neurobiology of schizophrenia; animal models of anxiety disorders; neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders; developmental neurobiology and childhood onset of psychiatric disorders; the neurobiology of mental retardation; the interface between neurological and psychiatric disorders; the neurobiology of circadian rhythms; and the neurobiology of sleep disorders. Both as a textbook and a reference work, Neurobiology of Mental Illness represents a uniquely valuable resource for psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and their students or trainees.

Autism is an extremely complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is expressed in a spectrum of phenotypes and is characterised by impaired reciprocal social communication and stereotyped patterns of interests and activities. Its aetiopathogenesis remains poorly understood. This exhaustive synthesis discusses various aspects: A focus on the neurobiology of autism: the candidate genes implicate an involvement of numerous brain regions and a concomitant malfunctioning of neurotransmitter, immunologic, and other mechanisms; The most incisive rehabilitation models in their original formulation and the results achieved with the same or similar protocols in Italian centres (understanding, language therapy, social skill training; The psychopharmacologic options for the condition of autism per se and for its associated, very frequent, comorbidities. It suggests a potential influence on professional practice and enables an up-to-date approach to effective diagnosis and treatment.