In the past decade, there has been a virtual explosion of information with regard to autism – in the media, on the Internet, and in professional journals. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist who has provided clinical care to children and adults with autism for over 25 years, I have been troubled by some of this information, particularly the frequent surmises regarding the causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and some presentations of available treatments.

It is my opinion that physicians and other professionals who work with children and adults with autism and with their families need to have up-to-date, accurate scientific information, in order to dispel myths and correct misunderstandings. These professionals also need a clear explication of the existing literature on autism so that they can undertake critical reading of new research. I decided that I could assist this process by putting together a book on what we know now about ASDs. My primary goal was to make the book accessible and clear. I invited contributions from colleagues who, like me, are clinical practitioners and service providers and who could bring the perspective of their own professional experience to bear as they described the scientific underpinnings of their work and reviewed treatment approaches.

Structurally, this book is divided into two sections: scientific foundations and treatment, with the second section separated into treatments for children and – an emerging field – programming for adults. Each chapter stands on its own as an essay on a particular topic in autism research and treatment, but taken together, these essays should provide a relatively comprehensive overview of our current knowledge of the heterogeneous disorders that we now locate on the “autism spectrum.”