About this Research Topic
In recent decades, considerable progress has been made in the evaluation of evidence-based interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disorders. In particular, the use of antipsychotic medication and behavior analytic interventions have been demonstrated to have significant benefit. Despite the widespread use of these and other interventions in clinical settings, the literature on these treatments often appear siloed within the field of ASD. As a result, concerted interdisciplinary research efforts focused on alleviating the myriad of symptoms of ASD and comorbid conditions are lacking.
The goal of this Research Topic is to shed light on this critical area and bridge the gap between research and practice among various disciplines within ASD. In particular, there is a focus on examining the effectiveness of combined behavioral and biological interventions, which could have a significant public health impact on clinical practice and long-term outcomes for people affected by ASD.
The scope of this Research Topic includes themes such as:
• Empirical reports describing the application and evaluation of behavioral (including developmental, educational, social, psychological, parent training, speech/language/ occupational therapies) techniques combined with biological (e.g., pharmacotherapy, neuromodulatory, dietary, etc.) interventions that seek to reduce symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and enhance learning, independence, and quality of life.
• Functional analysis of behavior in combination with biological intervention
• Novel treatments when examined with evidence-based intervention
• Discussion papers surveying and critically evaluating current methods/delivery of intervention
• Conceptual and technical papers on methodological issues
• Direct or systematic replication of prior research
• Clinical trials as well as methodologically-sound single case design studies (authors should refer to the Autism Specialty Section's Scope, where we have recently listed information that authors should consider when planning and writing their work)
• Basic laboratory research examining the effects of biological manipulations (e.g., ablation,
gene manipulation, medication administration) or behavioral techniques (e.g., extinction) on
behavior targets (e.g., performance on behavioral assays, under various schedules of
reinforcement)
The goal of this Research Topic is to shed light on this critical area and bridge the gap between research and practice among various disciplines within ASD. In particular, there is a focus on examining the effectiveness of combined behavioral and biological interventions, which could have a significant public health impact on clinical practice and long-term outcomes for people affected by ASD.
The scope of this Research Topic includes themes such as:
• Empirical reports describing the application and evaluation of behavioral (including developmental, educational, social, psychological, parent training, speech/language/ occupational therapies) techniques combined with biological (e.g., pharmacotherapy, neuromodulatory, dietary, etc.) interventions that seek to reduce symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and enhance learning, independence, and quality of life.
• Functional analysis of behavior in combination with biological intervention
• Novel treatments when examined with evidence-based intervention
• Discussion papers surveying and critically evaluating current methods/delivery of intervention
• Conceptual and technical papers on methodological issues
• Direct or systematic replication of prior research
• Clinical trials as well as methodologically-sound single case design studies (authors should refer to the Autism Specialty Section's Scope, where we have recently listed information that authors should consider when planning and writing their work)
• Basic laboratory research examining the effects of biological manipulations (e.g., ablation,
gene manipulation, medication administration) or behavioral techniques (e.g., extinction) on
behavior targets (e.g., performance on behavioral assays, under various schedules of
reinforcement)
Keywords: autism, pharmacotherapy, applied behavior analysis, combined interventions, drug-behavior interaction
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.
