Understanding Autism

Dr. Neophytos (Neo) L. Papaneophytou earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and holds licenses to practice psychotherapy in various States in America. He has completed specialization training in the areas of sexual abuse and maltreatment, personality disorders and trauma. Dr. Papaneophytou has extensive experience working with both victims and abusers. Moreover, he as experience diagnosing and treating various psychiatric conditions and stressors related to anxiety, mood disorders, depression, schizophrenia, bereavement, divorce, adjustment issues, LGBTQU issues, ADHD, PTSD, school/behavioral issues, and parenting among others. When working with clients (children, adults, and couples) Dr. Papaneophytou utilizes a client-centered approach to facilitate optimal therapeutic results that allows clients to enjoy an improved quality of life. In his client-centered approach, Dr. Papaneophytou utilizes techniques from the following therapeutic orientations: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, transference-focused psychotherapy, dynamic psychotherapy, and trauma-focused CBT. In addition to his clinical practice and research, Dr. Papaneophytou’s career has included over 20 years of the teaching of multiple graduate and undergraduate psychology courses at institutions such as the City University of New York, The State University of New York, and many other local and international universities. Dr. Papaneophytou is the founder and President of non-profit organizations, aiming at expanding awareness and offering actionable help to people on the Autism Spectrum and their families. He organized the Annual Cyprus International Conference on Autism Treatment and Research, and he is working toward the establishment of a model Center for Excellence: The Cyprus International Center for Autism Education Treatment and Research. This is the 3rd book Dr. Papaneophytou has co-authored pertinent to ASD. He welcomes scientific collaboration, particularly comparative international research. Undurti N. Das is an M.D. in Internal Medicine from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, India; a Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, India, and Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar prize awardee. Apart from clinical work, he is researching the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids, cytokines, nitric oxide, free radicals, and anti-oxidants in cancer, inflammation, metabolic syndrome, schizophrenia, sepsis, rheumatological conditions and autisms. His current interests include the epidemiological and molecular aspects of autism, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome. Dr. Das was formerly scientist at Efamol Research Institute, Kentville, Canada; Professor of Medicine at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India and Research Professor of Surgery and Nutrition at SUNY (State University of New York) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA. At present, he is the Chairman and Research Director of UND Life Sciences LLC, USA, and serves as a consultant to both Indian and USA based biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Undurti Das is the Founding Editor of the international journal: Lipids in Health and Disease; and serves on the editorial board of another 10 international journals. Dr Das has more than 500 international publications and has been awarded 5 USA patents.

1. Prologue

I. Biological Perspective
2. A perinatal strategy to prevent autism: Essential fatty acids, BDNF, vitamin A and growth hormone in the prevention and its management
3. Role of vitamin D in modulating gut microbiota, and certain etiological mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder

II. Social Perspective
4. Sensory processing, autonomic regulation, and socio-emotional development in Autism

III. Assessment
5. Assessment of Parenting Capacity for Parents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
6. Development and Feasibility of Theory-Based Nutrition Education Interventions for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
7. Challenging clinical presentations in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disability: The case for specialist intensive community interventions as an alternative to institutional care.
8. A Holistic Model and Treatment of Autism
9. Home-Based Support for Young Autistic Children: Overview of a Program Co-designed with Researchers, Child Therapists and Caregivers

IV. Technological Advancements
10. Socially Assistive Robots: What is it and why are we talking about them?

V. Journey with Autism
11. Engendering Quality of Life: Ecological Realities in Developmental Relational Trans-Disciplinary Pediatric Practice in a Neurodiverse World
12. Caring for the Caregiver of those living with Autism-Spectrum Disorders: Minimizing Burden and Optimizing Well-Being
13. Special Olympics Movement. New Opportunities for Socialization of Children with Mental Disabilities, Including ASD
14. “The Hidden Meanings of Repetitive Behaviors” – A Window Into the Child’s Inner World From a Multidisciplinary Perspective
15. Individuated but not Separated
16. The clinical case of baby Joseph: embrace and nurture social skills in autism in a post pandemic era
17. Justice For All? The Overrepresentation of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Criminal Justice System
18. Autism and Metamorphic Temporalities
Majia Nadesan
19. Opportunities to Support the Caregiver of Children and Young Adults with ASD as they Transition into the Workforce and University
20. Using Desensitize Program to Reduce Phobias and Specific Fears in Children with Autism
21. When the construction of meaning does not have an overall collective dimension: the nature of linguistic anomalies in autism
22. Crime and Punishment: The role of social, emotional, and cognitive deficits in a case of child pornography possession
23. Enhancing Coping and Resilience in Bullied Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
24. Aquatactile neuromodulation and its impact on the development and correction of motor functions in children with ASD