Intensive behavioral/psychoeducational treatments for autism: Research needs and future directions

It is widely acknowledged that, to date, the forms of treatment enjoying the broadest empirical validation for effectiveness with individuals with autism are those treatments based upon a behavioral model and that such treatments are best implemented intensively and early in the child's development. This paper describes several features important in the success of this model and presents remaining issues to be addressed for improving treatment effectiveness. While it is appreciated that there is no one size fits all treatment for children with autism, there is as yet no established protocol for relating specific child, family, target behavior, and treatment variables to individualized treatment regimens. Future research needs to include well-conceived and methodologically rigorous investigations allowing for the determination of these important variables.