Autism - Articles | CARLAT PUBLISHING

You Can Be Neurodivergent. And Still Need Care.

When Neurodivergence Becomes a Rejection of Treatment, Patients Lose

May 24, 2025

At Carlat Publishing, we regularly debate trends in psychiatry—and neurodivergence is one of today’s most charged topics.
Let’s call it opinion divergence: Some on our team feel that the DSM-5 term “autism spectrum disorder” is politically insensitive. Others see it as clinically essential.

Clinical Update

Dysregulation in Autism: Irritability, Aggression, and “Pathological Demand Avoidance”

October 1, 2024

Alyssa Aikman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Alyssa Aikman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC. Psychiatric nurse practitioner in outpatient group practice, Vancouver, WA.

Ms. Aikman has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is a popular concern among autistic kids and families. It’s not in the DSM, yet we need to understand and address it. This clinical update helps you approach irritability and PDA rationally to help autistic patients connect and regulate before merely prescribing D2-blocking antipsychotics.

Expert Q&A

Treating OCD With Co-Occurring Conditions

November 1, 2023

Kate Dimond Fitzgerald, MD

Kate Dimond Fitzgerald, MD.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist; Ruane Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY.

Dr. Fitzgerald has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

In this issue we offer the information you need to treat OCD when it is mixed with other diagnoses.

Addressing Suicidality in Autistic Children and Teens

September 25, 2023

Joshua Feder, MD, Mara Goverman, and Paul Lipkin, MD

Joshua Feder, MD, and Mara Goverman, LCSW, have disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Autistic kids and teens can become despondent or suicidal. This episode explores the distinction between self-injurious behavior and suicidality in autistic children, communication patterns related to suicide, the screening process for identifying suicidality, and the different levels of care required to effectively address this issue.

Recognizing and Treating Psychosis in Autism

August 21, 2023

Joshua Feder, MD and Mara Goverman

Is it autism or psychosis or both? Autistic traits and psychotic symptoms can look a lot alike. How common is psychosis in autism? And how can we differentiate co-occurring autistic traits from psychotic symptoms? Dr. Kristin Cadenhead gives us an approach for sorting through the history and addressing these problems separately.

Expert Q&A

Autism in Adults

August 7, 2023

Joshua D. Feder, MD

Joshua D. Feder, MD.

Editor-in-Chief, The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report.

Dr. Feder has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

How to diagnose autism, the role of pharmacotherapy, and how to guide patients toward independence in adulthood.

Treating Irritability in Autistic Children: Functional and Medication Approaches

April 24, 2023

Joshua Feder, MD and Mara Goverman

Antipsychotics can be very effective for irritability in autism, but they are often unnecessary, and the side effects are truly problematic. Don’t be the prescriber who hears irritability in autism and immediately prescribes antipsychotics. There are usually multiple steps to try before using the FDA-approved antipsychotic medications.

Research Update

Autistic Drivers Perform Well

April 1, 2023

Jason Emejuru, MD

Jason Emejuru, MD. Dr. Emejuru has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Driving is a critical skill for many autistic people we see. But do autistic drivers have more accidents? How are their accidents different from those of non-autistic drivers? This research update gives you insight that you can use to help the autistic drivers you see to better prepare for safer driving.

Expert Q&A

Recognizing and Treating Psychosis in Autism

April 1, 2023

Kristin Cadenhead, MD

Kristin Cadenhead, MD.

Professor of psychiatry. Director, Cognitive Assessment and Risk Evaluation (CARE) Early Psychosis Treatment and Research Program, University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Cadenhead has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Is it autism or psychosis or both? Autistic traits and psychotic symptoms can look a lot alike. How common is psychosis in autism? And how can we differentiate co-occurring autistic traits from psychotic symptoms? Dr. Kristin Cadenhead gives us an approach for sorting through the history and addressing these problems separately.

Clinical Update

Treating Irritability in Autism: Functional and Medication Approaches

April 1, 2023

Joshua Feder, MD

Joshua D. Feder, MD. Editor-in-Chief, The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report.

Dr. Feder has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Antipsychotics can be very effective for irritability in autism, but they are often unnecessary, and the side effects are truly problematic. Don’t be the prescriber who hears irritability in autism and immediate prescribes antipsychotics. There are usually multiple steps to try before using the FDA approved antipsychotic medications.