This book offers an overview of the history, definitions, and treatments for autism spectrum disorders from 1943 to the present day. Bridging the gap between psychology and neuroscience through a rigorous reconstruction of eighty years of research, the author retraces the emergence of the definition of autism and the description of its characteristics, the history of the diagnosis and standardized classification of ASD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and the development of etiological research and therapeutic interventions in medical, psychoeducational, and alternative therapies. The content spans neurology, genetics, psychiatry, and medicine, integrating discoveries from different fields to shed light on relevant factors of the pathology and dynamics of ASD. A useful resource for students and researchers in psychology, psychiatry, special education, and healthcare, this book unveils the latest advances in the field of ASD and discusses the research agenda for the years to come, showcasing multidirectional approaches to improve the quality of life of autistic people.
