Asperger Syndrome in Adulthood ─ A Comprehensive Guide for Clinicians

Despite the dramatic proliferation of research, clinical perspectives, and accounts of Asperger Syndrome (AS) in the last 15 years, much of this writing has focused on the application of the diagnosis to children. As more people become familiar with the signs and symptoms of AS, increasing numbers of adults are seeking assessment and treatment for AS and its comorbid conditions. Here, Stoddart, Burke, and King present the most comprehensive volume to date on the subject of understanding, supporting, and treating affected adults.

Covering issues of diagnosis as well as co-morbid conditions, psychosocial issues, and various types of interventions, the authors integrate their extensive clinical experience with published research, providing both a comprehensive discussion of AS in adulthood and a multidisciplinary approach to assessment and treatment. Early chapters discuss basic diagnostic criteria and assessment, mental health, neurodevelopmental, genetic, and medical issues that often accompany AS in adults. Also reviewed are historical findings and controversies about ASDs. The last two chapters focus on intervention: psychotherapy, psychopharmacotherapy, and complementary supports. Throughout, clinical examples and anecdotes model the practical application of recommended diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Dr. Kevin P. Stoddart is Founding Director of The Redpath Centre and Adjunct Professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. As a Registered Social Worker, he has worked in the fields of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), developmental disabilities, and mental health. For twenty years, his clinical focus has been individuals with Asperger Syndrome and their families. He consults to organizations and carries out research with the aim of promoting more effective and responsive service systems and programs for individuals on the spectrum.
Dr. Lillian Burke is Assistant Director and Psychologist at The Redpath Centre in Toronto and London, Canada. Dr. Burke first specialized in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in the 1980s, and since then has continued to work with children, youth, and adults who have ASDs and developmental disabilities. Currently, her primary clinical activity is assessment of adults for ASDs and Asperger Syndrome; she is involved in numerous research projects on adults with ASDs and Asperger Syndrome.Dr. Robert King has worked for over two decades with multiple interdisciplinary teams, largely in rural underserved regions of Ontario, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), and mental health concerns. He is currently Consulting Psychiatrist to ACT-DD, Brockville Mental Health Centre, Pathways to Independence, Kerry's Place Autism Services, and Community Living agencies in Ontario, Canada.