Main description:

The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has evolved greatly since Asperger's day. And as our clinical understanding of this spectrum of disorders has grown, so has recognition of the connections between anxiety disorders and ASD-a welcome development, but also a source of confusion for many in the field.

The Handbook of Autism and Anxiety brings together leading experts to explain this comorbidity, the diagnostic similarities and differences between the two disorders and the extent to which treatment for each can be coordinated for optimum results. Focusing on repetitive behaviors, social difficulties and fears as core components of anxiety disorders as well as ASD, contributors discuss specific symptoms in depth to aid in diagnosis. Assessment and treatment issues relevant to the autism-anxiety connection are considered in clinical and school contexts. And an especially timely conclusion details how key changes in the DSM-5 affect the diagnosis and conceptualization of each disorder.

Key topics addressed in the Handbook include:

Phenotypic variability in ASD: clinical considerations.
Etiologic factors and transdiagnostic processes.
Social worries and difficulties: autism and/or social anxiety disorder?
Implementing group CBT interventions for youth with ASD and anxiety in clinical practice.
Autism and anxiety in school settings.
DSM-5 and autism spectrum disorder.

The Handbook of Autism and Anxiety is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians/professionals and graduate students in child and school psychology, psychiatry, social work, education, clinical counseling and behavioral therapy.

Contents:

Foreword; Simon Baron-Cohen.- Preface; Thompson E. Davis III, Susan W. White, and Thomas H. Ollendick.- PART I: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW.- Chapter 1. The History of Autism: From Pillar to Post; Lawrence Scahill, Elizabeth Turin, and Andrea Nichole Evans.- Chapter 2. Phenotypic Variability in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical Considerations; Luc Lecavalier.- Chapter 3. Anxiety Disorders; Peter Muris.- Chapter 4. Other Disorders Frequently Comorbid with Autism; Marie Nebel-Schwalm and Julie Worley.- Chapter 5. Anxiety Assessment and Treatment in Typically Developing Children; Laura Seligman, Erin Swedish, and Ellen Flannery-Schroeder.- Chapter 6. Autism and Anxiety: Overlap, Similarities, and Differences; Connor M. Kerns and Philip C. Kendall.- Chapter 7. Autism and Anxiety: Etiologic Factors and Transdiagnostic Processes; Carla A. Mazefsky and John Herrington.- PART II: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND SPECIFIC ANXIETY DISORDERS.- Chapter 8. Obsessions, Compulsions, and Repetitive Behavior: Autism and/or OCD?; Monica S. Wu, Brittany M. Rudy, and Eric A. Storch.- Chapter 9. Social Worries and Difficulties: Autism and/or Social Anxiety Disorder?; Susan W. White, Amie R. Schry, and Nicole L. Kreiser.- Chapter 10. Fear: Autism and/or Specific Phobia?; Thompson E. Davis III and Thomas H. Ollendick.- PART III: ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT.- Chapter 11. Behavioral Assessment and Trea

tment for Anxiety for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder; Louis Hagopian and Heather Jennett.- Chapter 12. Treating Transdiagnostic Processes in ASD: Going Beyond Anxiety; Kate Sofronoff, Renae Beaumont, and Jonathan Weiss.- Chapter 13. Bridging the Research to Practice Gap in Autism Research: Implementing Group CBT Interventions for Youth with ASD and Anxiety in Clinical Practice; Judy Reaven, Audrey Blakeley-Smith, and Susan Hepburn.- Chapter 14. Autism and

Anxiety in School; Christopher Lopata and Marcus L. Thomeer.- PART IV: IMPLICATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS.- Chapter 15. Commentary I: The Evolution of Autism as a Diagnostic Concept: From Kanner to DSM-5; Fred Volkmar and Brian Reichow.- Chapter 16. Commentary II: DSM-5 Criteria for ASD: Research Review and Commentary; James McPartland and Geraldine Dawson.- Chapter 17. Commentary III: DSM-5 and Autism Spectrum Disorder; Catherine Lord and Katherine Gotham.