Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review for the First Level of Care Physician

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (asd) is a complex development disorder characterized mainly by deficiencies in communication and social interaction, as well as repeated and restrictive behavior patterns, interests or activities. Prevalence is higher in children. The exact causes of abnormalities or irregularities in the neural connections underlying the disease are unknown, but etiologically asd is considered a multifactorial condition. Different pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed to explain the manifestations of the disorder, including an alteration in the balance of excitatory and inhibitory signals mediated by glutamate and gamma amino-butyric acid, respectively, in circuits that control cognitive functions such as memory and learning. Treatment of asd consists of psychological, pedagogical and pharmacological support, each case must be treated individually. This review addresses relevant aspects of the pathophysiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of this disorder.