The essence of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions: rethinking co-morbidities, assessment, and intervention. Gillberg, C. (2021). ESSENCE (Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations) refers to the group of neurodevelopmental disorders that include autism, as well as conditions that are gaining increasing awareness, such as ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders).
The Swedish professor of child psychiatry Christopher Gillberg describes the prognosis of ESSENCE, examining the common coexistence between these conditions and the symptoms they present. While diagnoses are often treated in isolation, Gillberg presents these issues as a general condition and recommends treatment and support based on a holistic approach. This book also demonstrates the need for comprehensive interventions and assessments to improve outcomes for individuals within this group.
