New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline - Ministry of Health

Part 4: Treatment and management of ASD
4.3 Psychological approaches to the management of ASD
Summary of recommendations
Recommendations:
4.3.1 Professionals should, objectively and honestly, interpret research evidence for
parents or people with ASD.
Grade
C
4.3.2 Structured educational/daily living programmes and interventions with an
emphasis on visually based cues should be implemented. They should focus
on skill enhancement and establishment of communication strategies. Familycentred
treatment approaches should be provided.
C
4.3.3 Professionals, people with ASD, family, whänau and carers should evaluate
treatment approaches before and during implementation.
C
4.3.4 Behaviour management techniques should be used to intervene with problem
behaviours.
A
4.3.5 All behavioural interventions should be of good quality and incorporate the
following principles: person-centred planning, functional assessment, positive
intervention strategies, multifaceted interventions, focus on environment,
meaningful outcomes, focus on ecological validity and systems-level intervention.
C
4.3.6 Consumers of behavioural interventions should refer to recently published
guidelines for identifying, selecting and evaluating behaviour analysts with
people with ASD.
C
4.3.7 The feasibility of establishing publicly funded, ASD-specific behavioural services
should be investigated.
C
4.3.8 Insight-oriented therapy and psychodynamic therapy are not recommended as
suitable treatments for people with ASD.
C
4.3.9 Cognitive behaviour therapy should be considered as a suitable treatment for
many behavioural, emotional and mental health difficulties.
4.3.10 Cognitive behaviour therapists should adapt their techniques to take into account
the characteristics of people with ASD.
C
C
Part 4
There are many approaches to treating and managing ASD. Interventions and approaches that make
compelling claims to cure ASD are easily sourced through the Internet, although many make claims
that have not been substantiated 204 258 272 278-283 . Although claims are often strongly worded, a great deal
of the information that is readily accessible is biased, and claims that certain interventions ‘cure’ ASD
or lead to ‘recovery’ have been described as misleading and irresponsible 273 .
New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline 139