Download or read book Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders written by Fred R. Volkmar and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2007-04-12 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Featuring contributions from leading authorities in the clinical and social sciences, this thoroughly revised and updated new edition reflects the most recent progress in the understanding of autism and related conditions, and offers an international perspective on the present state of the discipline. Chapters cover current approaches to definition and diagnosis; prevalence and planning for service delivery; cognitive, genetic, and neurobiological features; and pathophysiological mechanisms. There is a new chapter covering communication issues. Interventions reviewed include the pharmacological, behavioral, and educational, and a thoughtful final chapter addresses the nature of the fundamental social disturbance that characterizes autism.