Nosology and Theories of Repetitive and Restricted Behaviours and Interests

Abstract

The prevalence of autism continues to rise every year. Recently, the results of a 2006 surveillance survey conducted by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network were released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2009). It was estimated that 1 in 70 boys and 1 in 315 girls in the United States are diagnosed with an ASD (CDC, 2009). The increase in the prevalence of autism is astounding, as is the responsibility placed on parents and professionals to identify effective treatments for individuals with autism. Although the increasing rates of autism are staggering, the desperation of families to find the right treatment for their children can be overwhelming. This sense of urgency can increase parents’ susceptibility to embracing fad treatments.