Although there are many intervention methods for autism, most of them lack evidence-based medicine. There is no optimal treatment, and the best treatment should be individualized treatment. Among them, education and training are the most effective and important treatments. The goal is to promote the language development of patients, improve their social communication ability and master basic life skills and learning skills. Because autistic people can't adapt to ordinary kindergarten life before entering school, they usually receive education and training at home, special education schools and medical institutions. After school age, patients' language skills and social skills will be improved. Some patients can go to ordinary primary schools to receive education with children of the same age, and some patients may still stay in special education schools.
At present, the training intervention methods recommended and used by mainstream international medicine provide the direction for the standardized treatment of autism. These mainstream methods mainly include
(1) Applying Behavioral Analysis Therapy (ABA) to advocate behaviorism and behavioral modeling principles, so as to positively strengthen and promote the development of autistic children's abilities. Training emphasizes high intensity, individuality and systematization.
(2) Training for Children with Autism and Related Disorders (TEACCH) This course designs personalized training content according to the ability and behavior characteristics of children with autism, and educates children on language, communication, sensory movement and other defects. The core is to improve the understanding and obedience of autistic children to the environment, education and training content.
(3) Interpersonal relationship training methods include floor time therapy and relationship development intervention (RDI).
The above treatment methods have been carried out in some autism rehabilitation institutions in China, and achieved good therapeutic effects, but further research and demonstration are needed.
2. Drug therapy
At present, drug therapy can not change the course of autism, and there is also a lack of specific drugs for core symptoms. However, drugs can improve some emotional and behavioral symptoms of patients, such as emotional instability, attention deficit and hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, aggressive behavior, self-injury and suicide, TIC and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, psychotic symptoms, etc., which is conducive to maintaining the safety of patients themselves or others and smoothly implementing education, training and psychotherapy. Commonly used drugs are as follows:
(1) Central excitatory drugs are suitable for patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The commonly used drug is methylphenidate.
(2) antipsychotic drugs should be used in small doses for a short time, and pay attention to the side effects of drugs, especially the side effects of extrapyramidal system.
Risperidone is effective in treating emotional symptoms and psychotic symptoms related to autism, such as impulsiveness, aggression, agitation, emotional instability and irritability. (2) Haloperidol is effective for behavioral symptoms such as impulsiveness, hyperactivity and rigidity, emotional symptoms such as emotional instability and irritability, and psychotic symptoms. It is reported that it can also improve social communication and language development barriers. ③ Aripiprazole, quetiapine, olanzapine and other atypical antipsychotics are also effective in controlling patients' impulsive, aggressive and psychotic symptoms.
(3) Antidepressants can relieve repetitive stereotyped behaviors and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, improve emotional problems, improve social skills, and also have a certain effect on withdrawal, tardive dyskinesia, convulsions and other dyskinesia after using dopamine receptor blockers.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective for behavioral and emotional problems of autistic patients. For example, patients over 6 years old can try sertraline.