Treatment Integrity in Autism Spectrum Disorder Interventions

Abstract

The last few years have seen a remarkable proliferation of treatment programs to ameliorate the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD; National Autism Center. (2009). The National Autism Center's National Standards Report. Massachusetts: Author.). In addition, there is an increasing legal and ethical burden placed on the practitioner working with an ASD population to use evidence based interventions (EBI) that have been evaluated in the scientific literature (Detrich, R. (2008). Evidence-based, empirically supported, or best practice? A guide for the scientist-practitioner. In J. K. Luiselli, D. C. Russo, W. P. Christian, & S. M. Wilczynski (Eds.), Effective practices for children with autism (pp. 3–25). New York: Oxford University Press.). The vast database of interventions and added pressures make the job of the clinician quite difficult—they must sift through competing evidence bases, spectacular statistical claims, and treatments that “wrap themselves in the cloak of science” (Wilczynski, S. M., Christin, L., & National Autism Center. The National Standards Project: Promoting evidence-based practice in autism spectrum disorders. In J. K. Luiselli, D. C. Russo, W. P. Christian, & S. M. Wilczynski (Eds.), Effective practices for children with autism (pp. 37–60). New York: Oxford University Press.) in order to find treatment programs that will be effective. Fortunately, there exist a variety of resources to help the practitioner identify an EBI. In fact, this book will serve as a very useful guide to help parents and professionals select potentially effective interventions for children with ASD.