New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute
An Integrative Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder Presenter: William Singletary, M.D. Discussant: Maggie Zellner, Ph.D.
Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 10 am, The Marianne & Nicholas Young Auditoriumm 247 E. 82nd Street, NYC
Free and open to the public
RSVP is appreciated but not required; first come, first-seated To register, click HERE, visit nypsi.org, or call 212.879.6900
Recent convergences within neurobiology, and between neurobiology and psychoanalysis, allow us to view autism through a new lens, seeing biological risk factors that might operate through final common pathways to produce the ASD syndrome. This talk integrates and elaborate upon this confluence of findings, developing a working model of ASD that could parsimoniously account for central aspects of ASD, promote greater collaboration in research, and lead to more effective treatment. ASD can be seen as a potentially reversible neurodevelopmental disorder in which neurobiological factors – not poor parenting – interfere with the child-caregiver interaction. The infant then experiences deprivation of growth-promoting parental input, even though it is available. This model adds what seems to have been largely unrecognized in the field of autism: the child’s experience of social deprivation and isolation signals threat to the child, and may result in overwhelming stress (“allostatic overload”) that damages the body and predisposes one to the development of disease. Critically, this model proposes that allostatic overload may amplify the neurobiological vulnerabilities thought to be involved with development of autism. The model also supports successful intervention that may promote the reversal of this process via adaptive coping and neuroplasticity, by providing an enriched environment, increasing social and emotional connection, and decreasing anxiety, stress, and allostatic load. Making sense of the child’s experience of isolation and threat helps the ASD child feel understood and less afraid. Clinical material will illustrate how, for some children on the higher end of the autism spectrum, recovery is made more likely by increasing the sense of connection and decreasing the experience of stress.
Dr. William Singletary is a child and adult psychiatrist and psychoanalyst on the faculty of the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. He is President of the Board of the Margaret S. Mahler Psychiatric Research Foundation. He has worked in intensive psychotherapy with children with autistic spectrum disorder for over 25 years. For nine years he was a co-chair of a discussion group, Psychoanalytic Approaches to Working with Children with ASD, at the winter meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association. Recently he has focused on developing a dialogue between psychoanalysis and neurobiology. Dr. Singletary was one of the primary organizers of an international symposium on the psychoanalytic treatment of ASD held in New York City in 2008. An outgrowth was the formation of an international organization dedicated to the psychoanalytic understanding and treatment of autistic children. He has a particular interest in the inner world of the child with ASD and has taught and made a number of presentations on this subject. He contributed the chapters on neuroscience for the recently published book, Autism Spectrum Disorder: Perspectives from Psychoanalysis and Neuroscience by Susan Sherkow and Alexandra Harrison.
Educational Objectives: After attending this activity, participants will be able to:
1) describe affective and cognitive processes thought to occur in the inner life of a child with autism, correlated with neurobiological vulnerabilities in fear responses and associated stress cascades
2) develop hypotheses of how psychosocial interventions such as psychoanalytic therapy can benefit a child with a neurobiologically-based disorder like ASD.
Physicians: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of [2] AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters of this CME program has any relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Psychologists: New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education programs for psychologists. New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
DISCLOSURE: None of the planners and presenters of this CE program has any relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Social Workers: New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0317.
Persons with disabilities: The building is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator. Please notify the registrar in advance if you require accommodations.
NEW YORK PSYCHOANALYTIC SOCIETY & INSTITUTE
247 East 82nd Street, NY, NY 10028
212.879.6900
www.nypsi.org
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