People with autism spectrum disorder may have unique development challenges, but they face a range of health issues like all people, and many of these may be compounded by an ASD. This book provides the tools and information so the health care professional can think differently about caring for this patient and see through his or her eyes. The presentations of 28 contributors share the importance of early, continuous, coordinated, and individualized care that is integrated into the existing health care system. Examples of models and policies that have improved the access, experience, and outcomes for patients with ASD are shared. In addition, the importance of continuous quality improvement through data collection and monitoring of outcomes is emphasized. This information is essential for addressing the capacity crisis now in providing routine, specialized, and emergency care for individuals with ASD. Some of the major topics discussed include: the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder; facilitating the role of parents in management and advocacy; the impact of the sensory environment on care; medications for the treatment of psychiatric comorbidities; frameworks to guide practice and research with patients; building a home for acute care needs; assisting parents in adapting and making decisions regarding treatment options; integrating genetic testing into health care; educating nurses with faculty and curricular issues; emergency medicine and improving service; physical therapy to promote health, function, and community participation; using big data to direct quality improvement; and monitoring patient outcomes in research and policy outcomes. This significant volume brings together a wealth of expertise with information and strategies across the lifespan for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

In this book a group of international experts guide the reader through the clinical features of adults with autism spectrum disorders, describe the care needs of patients and their families, explain the evolution of the disorders into old age, and highlight what can be done to help. Detailed attention is paid to the medical and psychiatric problems of adults with these disorders and the approach to their education and professional integration. In addition, expert neuroscientists summarize current views on the neurobiology of autism. Autism spectrum disorders are devastating neurodevelopmental disorders. Although diagnosis and therapeutic interventions usually take place in infancy, they are chronic lifelong conditions. Surprisingly, the literature on autism spectrum disorders in adults is scarce. Moreover, most mental health professionals working with adults have little training in autism, and adult mental health services around the world are rarely prepared to address the needs of these patients, which tend to increase with age. This book therefore fills a crucial gap in the literature and will prove useful for all who care for and deal with adults in the Autistic Spectrum.

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. ​This handbook synthesizes and analyzes the growing knowledge base on life course health development (LCHD) from the prenatal period through emerging adulthood, with implications for clinical practice and public health. It presents LCHD as an innovative field with a sound theoretical framework for understanding wellness and disease from a lifespan perspective, replacing previous medical, biopsychosocial, and early genomic models of health. Interdisciplinary chapters discuss major health concerns (diabetes, obesity), important less-studied conditions (hearing, kidney health), and large-scale issues (nutrition, adversity) from a lifespan viewpoint. In addition, chapters address methodological approaches and challenges by analyzing existing measures, studies, and surveys. The book concludes with the editors’ research agenda that proposes priorities for future LCHD research and its application to health care practice and health policy. Topics featured in the Handbook include: The prenatal period and its effect on child obesity and metabolic outcomes. Pregnancy complications and their effect on women’s cardiovascular health. A multi-level approach for obesity prevention in children. Application of the LCHD framework to autism spectrum disorder. Socioeconomic disadvantage and its influence on health development across the lifespan. The importance of nutrition to optimal health development across the lifespan. The Handbook of Life Course Health Development is a must-have resource for researchers, clinicians/professionals, and graduate students in developmental psychology/science; maternal and child health; social work; health economics; educational policy and politics; and medical law as well as many interrelated subdisciplines in psychology, medicine, public health, mental health, education, social welfare, economics, sociology, and law.

Now is a crucial time for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). They have to integrate with all the other contemporary children's initiatives and develop in line with the Children's National Service Framework. This book aims to tell how to do just that.