Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism is a strongly heritable disorder of the developing brain characterized by significant delays in socialization and communication as well as repetitive patterns of behavior that manifest before three years of age. Evidence also exists for the onset of autistic behavior between 6-12 months in siblings of autistic individuals who themselves go on to develop autism. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including Asperger's syndrome, affect about 560,000 Americans under the age of 21, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One out of every 150 children will be diagnosed with ASD by the age of 8, which is more than 10 times the reported rate in the 1980s. In community surveys, autism affects as many as 20 children per 10,000, which is considerably higher than the prior estimate of 5 per 10,000. There is some controversy about whether the increasing number of cases is due to an increased number of occurrences, changes to diagnostic standards, or increased screening. Autism spectrum disorders have a lifelong impact on the quality of life for patients and caregivers...

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New Resource Added to neuroscienceCME.com

As a service to the neuroscienceCME learning community, the Medical Resources Group at CME Outfitters is assembling a selection of rating scales covering a variety of clinical areas. All rating scales are in PDF format, and are free to download, print, and share with colleagues. Scales for various topics in the neurosciences will be added on a regular basis, and existing topics will be updated periodically. The first installment of this resource includes fourteen rating scales for major depressive disorder. The next installment, available on December 31, will focus on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. To view or download any rating scale, or for more information, visit www.neuroscienceCME.com and click on Rating Scales under the Resources tab.

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