A Systematic Review of Dysfunctional Thoughts, Feelings and Phobias of Children and Adolescents with Autism. Solutions and Therapeutic Methods

Background: Children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience symptoms of various mental disorders along with the characteristics that define ASD. High rates of several psychiatric disorders have been reported in people with ASD such as anxiety, depression, cognitive problems, emotional regulation difficulties and related behavioral problems can occur in children of all ages with ASD. There are many treatment programs that can help autistic persons cope with these symptoms. Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and more are treatment programs that can help people with autism recognize and manage their symptoms. Aim: This paper examines through bibliographic sources of the last 15 years the possible mental disorders that a child or adolescent with ASD may experience, as well as the therapeutic interventions that can help to manage them. Methodology: For the present bibliographic research, 15 scientific articles from English journals were used. The databases from which the scientific articles were found were PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar. Results: According to the results of various studies, children and adolescents with autism show various symptoms of psychological disorders such as Anxiety Disorders, Depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The combination of CBT and ICT can help people with autism recognize and manage their symptoms. Discussion: The various symptoms of disorders that children and adolescents with autism experience can have a major impact on their family, their daily life, their schooling, and their future work. It is of the utmost importance that these children enter into a treatment program in order to better manage and treat their symptoms. The support of the school is also very important.