Autistic Spectrum Disorders (Mariani Foundation Paediatric Neurology N??14)

Autism is a disorder of neurodevelopment resulting in pervasive abnormalities of social interaction and communication, repetitive behaviours, and restricted interests. These manifestations are absolutely specific and represent a cognitive/behavioural phenotype that can be expressed with different degrees of severity. The phenotype must be considered to be a result of different genetic and epigenetic factors, and of the interactions between them.