About this Research Topic
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with social communication/interaction deficits and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior, but also with several co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions. The heterogeneity of symptoms and the different needs, level of support and treatments associated with them lead to the need to define appropriate services and care pathways to better manage children, adolescents, and adults with ASD.
Despite national and international guidelines for autism diagnostic, intervention and care services, service provision varies greatly and in many settings is significantly weighted towards diagnosis and children’s services with less attention to treatment and support or adult care. In particular, there are unmet services needs in managing common co-existing conditions such as feeding problems, sleep problems, anxiety, hyperactivity and sensory problems. Unfortunately, evidence on health services in ASD is limited.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide evidence, data or strategies for the definition and implementation of appropriate care pathways and services addressing the complex and heterogeneous nature of Autism Spectrum Disorder and providing high-quality, patient-centered medical care for people with ASD.
In this Research Topic, we aim to collect studies that focus on ASD care pathways and health/social/educational services for infants/children/adolescents/adults with ASD
We seek Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Case Report and Opinion articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
• Studies on the need for multidisciplinary care and effective coordination between different health/social care providers and services
• Studies on transition (people with ASD change clinical referral services with age, moving from child psychiatric and rehabilitation services to adult psychiatric and community services) to ensure continuity of care
• Studies on clinical-diagnostic-functional assessment pathways and differentiated treatment paths (through the definition of the Individual Rehabilitation Therapeutic Plan) on the basis of the different needs, level of adaptive functioning and any associated medical conditions or psychiatric disorders;
• Studies promoting educational methodologies defined in a tailor-made way for each individual to activate the maximum possible autonomy and the improvement of quality of life
• Studies tackling the care needs and services challenges across the adult age range
• Studies on cognitive decline and cognitive resilience during the adult years.
• Studies on gender differences and potential implications of them on phenotypic differences and service needs.
Despite national and international guidelines for autism diagnostic, intervention and care services, service provision varies greatly and in many settings is significantly weighted towards diagnosis and children’s services with less attention to treatment and support or adult care. In particular, there are unmet services needs in managing common co-existing conditions such as feeding problems, sleep problems, anxiety, hyperactivity and sensory problems. Unfortunately, evidence on health services in ASD is limited.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide evidence, data or strategies for the definition and implementation of appropriate care pathways and services addressing the complex and heterogeneous nature of Autism Spectrum Disorder and providing high-quality, patient-centered medical care for people with ASD.
In this Research Topic, we aim to collect studies that focus on ASD care pathways and health/social/educational services for infants/children/adolescents/adults with ASD
We seek Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Case Report and Opinion articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
• Studies on the need for multidisciplinary care and effective coordination between different health/social care providers and services
• Studies on transition (people with ASD change clinical referral services with age, moving from child psychiatric and rehabilitation services to adult psychiatric and community services) to ensure continuity of care
• Studies on clinical-diagnostic-functional assessment pathways and differentiated treatment paths (through the definition of the Individual Rehabilitation Therapeutic Plan) on the basis of the different needs, level of adaptive functioning and any associated medical conditions or psychiatric disorders;
• Studies promoting educational methodologies defined in a tailor-made way for each individual to activate the maximum possible autonomy and the improvement of quality of life
• Studies tackling the care needs and services challenges across the adult age range
• Studies on cognitive decline and cognitive resilience during the adult years.
• Studies on gender differences and potential implications of them on phenotypic differences and service needs.
Keywords: Quality management, Autism Spectrum disorders, Patient-centered, care pathways, health/social/educational services, case management, individualization, continuous training and updating
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
