Social Functioning Determinants of the Clinical Course and Outcomes of Autism Spectrum Disorder
A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 813
Special Issue Editors
Interests: autism; social functioning; heterogeneity; precision medicine
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Autism is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental condition that can have profound health implications and associated costs. These challenges are significant not only for individuals with autism but also for their families and the broader healthcare system. Consequently, there is a critical need to characterize the determinants of the clinical course of autism and the outcomes that impact this population so that they can be factored into treatment planning and intervention strategies to optimize care and resource allocation. One pertinent determinant is the variability in different aspects of social functioning, including social communication skills, social understanding, and motivation to engage socially. While alterations across these domains form part of the diagnostic criteria for autism, individuals with autism differ widely with respect to their manifestation of these characteristics. This heterogeneity can lead to diverse clinical outcomes, making it essential to fully understand the extent and clinical impact of differences in these socio-emotional domains.
This Special Issue aims to offer novel insights into how individual differences in social functioning—such as social communication, understanding, and motivation—act as determinants of clinical outcomes in autism. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: characterizing clinically meaningful social functioning subtypes, exploring developmental trajectories, analyzing social functioning in relation to co-occurring conditions and well-being, predicting intervention response, evaluating familial and environmental influences, and validating assessment tools.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Lacey Chetcuti
Dr. Mirko Uljarevic
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- autism
- social functioning
- social-communication
- social understanding
- social motivation
- heterogeneity
- clinical prediction
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