Autism Spectrum Disorders Through the Lifespan

Tantam (psychiatry and psychotherapy, U. of Sheffield, UK) draws on research and his clinical experience to explain to clinicians the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and support of individuals with autism spectrum disorders at each stage of life. He covers brain anatomy and function, animal studies, the effects of lesions in adulthood and childhood, and structural and functional changes reported in these disorders; neurogenetics, genes, and neurons; developmental and social issues; social orientation, communication, and language; nonverbal communication, empathy, and theory of mind; neuropsychological aspects; presentation and prevalence; clinical assessment; etiology; and presentation of autism, Asperger's syndrome, Kanner syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, and atypical Asperger's throughout the life stages. Case descriptions and co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, Rett syndrome, disintegrative psychosis, and dysexecutive syndrome are included. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Digby Tantam is Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist for Sheffield Health Care NHS Foundation Trust and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Sheffield. He is a chartered psychologist, and a fellow of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. Educated at Oxford, Harvard, Stanford, London and the Open Universities, and with a doctorate from the Institute of Psychiatry in London, he started a clinic for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in 1980 that has continued ever since. He has written numerous articles and books on ASD and other topics, including Can the World Afford Autistic Spectrum Disorder?, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.