[-jimi-]

I hope everyone will be respectful and answer truthfully what you think (if this topic interests you).

Do you think autism spectrum disorders are; from birth, caused by environment, caused by family situations or abuse, or otherwise?

Do you feel there is fundamental difference (not just severity) between low functioning autistic people, and "almost normal" people with Asperger's?

Do you think psychodynamic therapy is a good choice for an ASD person?

[sunrise]

Do you think autism spectrum disorders are; from birth, caused by environment, caused by family situations or abuse, or otherwise?
I think autism spectrum disorders are caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. The cause is not the same for all people. Here is an article on recent discovery of some genes involved:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/he...tism.html?_r=1

Do you feel there is fundamental difference (not just severity) between low functioning autistic people, and "almost normal" people with Asperger's?
My understanding is that communication is not impaired in Asperger's individuals, but that there is a communication deficit in people with autism.

Do you think psychodynamic therapy is a good choice for an ASD person?
I don't know. What is your view? The only thing I have heard about interventions is that it is good to start them as early in the life of the individual as possible.

[CantExplain]

I am Aspergic but I don't know where that comes from.
I don't know whether or not psychotherapy has made me any less Aspergic.

[-jimi-]

Thanx for your replies.

I am one of the experts in autism in my area. Its not known what causes it. There are just a number of factors it could be. Therapy can always be a helpful thing, if youve got a good match with a therapist who understands asd.

[bipolarmedstudent]

Originally Posted by jimrat

I hope everyone will be respectful and answer truthfully what you think (if this topic interests you).

Do you think autism spectrum disorders are; from birth, caused by environment, caused by family situations or abuse, or otherwise?

Do you feel there is fundamental difference (not just severity) between low functioning autistic people, and "almost normal" people with Asperger's?

Do you think psychodynamic therapy is a good choice for an ASD person?

I don't know enough about autism to know how much contribution genetics makes versus environment (and environment can include the uterine environment before the baby is born).

What we do know is that there are anatomical brain differences in people with autism. I believe there is less connectivity in the corpus callosum or prefrontal cortex or something like that. I would have to look it up again to be sure. But for sure there are differences in neuronal circuits in autistic people.

Now, that lack of connectivity can be caused by genes, it can be caused by neurotoxins in the environment, it can also be caused by severe neglect during infancy (lack of stimulation of a young child). I don't think it can be caused by abuse though. That doesn't make sense. It could also be that for some autistic people the cause is mostly genetic, while for other autistic people the cause is mostly neurotoxins, and for other autistic people the cause is mostly neglect. The cause needn't be the same in every autistic person.

I do believe there is probably fundamentaly differences in brain anatomy and neuronal circuitry between low-functioning autistic people and high-functioning people with Asperger's. I believe they are very different disorders. I also think that many high-functioning people who are diagnosed with Asperger's probably don't actually have Asperger's (i.e. I believe Asperger's is over-diagnosed). I have met some people who were diagnosed with Asperger's who I honestly didn't believe had the disorder. There is a trend to diagnose socially awkward children with Asperger's or PDD-NOS. My own brother was mistakenly diagnosed with PDD-NOS when he was just 18 months old. Suffice to say, today he is a 12 year old boy that is no where on the autistic spectrum. The misdiagnosis put my family through hell for several years.

As for psychodynamic therapy -- I don't think that would be very useful for treating autism. I think the type of therapy that might be useful is specific computer-based training exercises designed to reverse cognitive deficits in autistic people (e.g. recognition of facial expresions). The brain is plastic, and learning is always possible. You can design computer programs that 'exericise' the neuronal circuits in the brain that are underdeveloped. This way you can form new connections and strengthen existing ones. Just as you can design cognitive exercises that expand your working memory or your visual pattern recognition, for example, I'm sure you can design cognitive exercises that target the specific decificts that autistic people struggle with. In fact, I believe that computer exercises like this already exist. I have heard of them.

[learning1]

Originally Posted by jimrat

I hope everyone will be respectful and answer truthfully what you think (if this topic interests you).

Do you think autism spectrum disorders are; from birth, caused by environment, caused by family situations or abuse, or otherwise?

I think characteristics of people are usually caused by a combination of all that stuff-- well, obviously not abuse with people who weren't abused. So that's what I'd guess about autism too. I read an article in the new york times recently that suggested it varies from person to person.

Do you feel there is fundamental difference (not just severity) between low functioning autistic people, and "almost normal" people with Asperger's?

No--except that there's greater prejudice against people society defines as low functioning and people who get called low functioning aren't respected and included as equals as much as they should be.

Do you think psychodynamic therapy is a good choice for an ASD person?

It depends on the client and the therapist.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by SarahMichelle

I am one of the experts in autism in my area. Its not known what causes it. There are just a number of factors it could be. Therapy can always be a helpful thing, if youve got a good match with a therapist who understands asd.

I've got a good match with a therapist who pretty much ignores the existence of ASD.

But I bet she ignores all diagnoses, syndromes, disorders etc.

[Dreamy01]

Autism is absolutely NOT caused by abuse

I thought that view was long outdated and disproven.

However, abuse can cause symptoms that mimic aspects of ASD.

True ASD most likely has a genetic component especially as family members often carry traits themselves, such as OCD or introversion.