The definitions of autism have changed dramatically over the past four decades to include a wide range of people. The field continues to debate the utility and meaning of identifying portions of the spectrum as distinct groups, including the recently introduced term Profound Autism. Autistic people with Profound Autism have very high support needs, but have received less research attention over time, despite having elevated rates of co-occurring mental health and behavioral challenges. Intense behavior, including aggression, self-injury and severe emotional dysregulation, occur at a higher rate in those with Profound Autism. These challenges can be refractory and often are best approached with curiosity and a broad assessment of potential etiologies. Systems of care can be intentionally designed to meet the unique needs of this population. Evidence and practice for this approach is discussed, with a focus on teamwork.
Target Audience: Physicians (psychiatrists, pediatricians, child neurologists), psychologists, social workers, other mental health clinicians and researchers, and students and trainees.
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Discuss the prevalence of challenging behaviors in youth with ASD and ID
- Review the evidence for specialized inpatient psychiatry units targeting this population
- Identify the key elements of an effective inpatient program