Addressing the need for high quality research on autism in adulthood

In the seven decades since Kanner first published his original reports on individuals with autism, there have been many thousands of publications on the topic. From early case studies, the field has moved on to increasingly sophisticated studies of animal models, brain structures and functions, genetic models, diagnostic systems, and intervention trials. However, one area remains woefully under researched—life for adults with autism. Several recent reports have highlighted the very small number of publications specifically focusing on adults (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2013; Henninger and Taylor, 2013; Piven et al., 2011; Shattuck et al., 2011). Systematic reviews have also noted the poor quality of much of the research that has been conducted, particularly with regard to intervention (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2012; Taylor et al., 2012).