Addressed to:

Psychologists, psychiatrists, pedagogues, educators, social assistants and students.

Objective of the course:

The main purpose of the course is providing the participants with the basic knowledge to enable them to develop and apply therapeutic programmes addressed to families of people with autistic spectrum disorders.

Contents:

1. Preliminary aspects

• 1.1. The psychological development of the child and the adolescent
• 1.2. Main mental disorders with onset during childhood

2. Autism: introduction aspects

• 2.1. Concepts and definitions
• 2.2. Symptoms
• 2.3. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis
• 2.4. Etiology and epidemiology

3. Autism: treatment

• 3.1. Methodological principles
• 3.2. Assessment
• 3.3. Intervention areas
• 3.4. Early intervention
• 3.5. Intervention during adolescence and adulthood

4.  Autism: familiar issues

• 4.1. The impact of autism on the family
• 4.2. Family care
• 4.3. Home intervention programmes
• 4.3.1. Assessment
• 4.3.2. Socialisation and communication
• 4.3.3. Social and self-help skills
• 4.3.4. Problematic behaviours