Summary of the Article by Wolff (2004)
Wolff (2004) explores history of autism as one of the most researched psychiatry conditions involving children. The author explores the lessons drawn from the history of the conditions, the early explanations of the causes of the condition, and how these notions have changed over time. The author also explores the influence of researchers and clinicians in changing the understanding of autism over time and the many other factors that have predicted this change in understanding. The author also explores the change in definitions and the concept as well as how some of the conceptualizations of the syndrome have been disproved because of shifts in social and political factors.
Summary of the Article by Landrigan (2010)
Landrigan (2010) acknowledges the causal role of genetics in the occurrence of autism. The article agrees with the many scholars who have implicated deletions, mutations and copy number variants in causing autism and the related conditions. However, Landrigan (2010) notes that these genetic factors are only responsible for few cases of autism and do not account for the epidemiological and clinical features of the conditions. It is for this reason that the author explores the hypothesis that environmental exposures play a significant role.
Traditional Trends in Causes of Autism
Over the years, the change in social and historical factors as well as continued research into autism has changed the manner in which it is understood and treated. Some of the historical causes of autism have since been disproved through research. One of these historical causes as argued by Wolff (2004) is that autism and its related conditions is the result of poor parenting. This is different from the contemporary knowledge on the role parenting plays in the occurrence of autism. In debating this historical trend, Wolff (2004) holds that the abnormal characteristics of the parents of children with autism are the result of shared genes. Another historical trend relating to cause of autism was that it was in the schizophrenia, a psychosis. However, contemporary knowledge into autism as a condition has disproved this notion. The understanding of autism as a developmental disorder has changed the manner in which the condition is treated and managed.
Current Trends in Causes of Autism
The current trends are different from traditional trends because they have benefitted from numerous clinical studies and scholarly research. Current trends point towards genetics and the environment as the causes of autism (Chase & Leboyer, 2012). Epidemiological and genetic research has show that the interaction between the environment and the genetic factors result in this disorder. Chase & Leboyer (2012) argue that advances in the genetics field have shown the causal role of some specific alleles. Further research at present focuses on the role that environmental factors play in the occurrence of autism (Landrigan, 2010; Chase & Leboyer, 2012).
Evolution of Autism
It is arguable that the evolution of the understanding of autism will continue even in the future. As highlighted by Wolff (2004), previously held convictions regarding autism changed through research and clinical trials. Continued research into the syndrome will lead to more knowledge, some of which could challenge the current understanding of the conditions. Additionally, the barriers that behavior analysts face in their attempt to follow the empirical data on the conditions also predict the evolution of autism. However, the work of professionals in this field will lead to new knowledge that further influences the understanding of autism from a behavioral perspective. The further interaction between the environment and genetic material will also preside over the next phases of evolution of the condition (Ploeger & Galis, 2011).
Reference
Carr, J. E. & Briggs, A. M. (2010).Strategies for making regular contact with the scholarly literature. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 3(2), 13-18.
Chase, P. and Leboyer, M. (2012). Autism risk factors: genes, environment, and gene- environment interactions. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 14(3): 281-292.
Landrigan, P. (2010). What causes autism? Exploring the environmental contribution. Current Opinions in Pediatrics, 22: 219-225.
Ploeger, A. and Galis, F. (2011). Evolutionary approaches to autism- an overview and integration. McGill Journal of Medicine. 13(2): 38
Wolff, S. (2004). The history of Autism. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 13: 201- 208.
