Generalized environmental fear hypothesis and the effects of schematic restructuring in autism

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new hypothesis for autism, linking it to a generalized fear response in the womb and warns against using CBT for treating ASD.

Contribution

A novel hypothesis unifying autism subgroups through environmental fear and a caution against CBT for ASD.

Findings

Autism symptoms may stem from a generalized fear response developed in the womb.

CBT could lead to CPTSD or schizophrenia-like symptoms in individuals with ASD.

Reversing the order of schematic restructuring in CBT may reduce these risks.

Abstract

Current Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are very complex and exploratory in nature, it is the general consensus that there is not one underlying cause of autism. This article seeks to contest that claim by supporting a hypothesis that accounts for multiple, if not all, subgroups with a single common factor. At the same time, this hypothesis would lead to the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for researching therapeutic methods for people with ASD, and this article outlines why that is not advisable. It is hypothesized that upon realization of awareness in the womb, people with ASD conditioned a fear response to their environment. This fear response generalized upon the realization of new cognitive awareness, leading to the symptoms of ASD. In regards to CBT, it is hypothesized that schematic restructuring (a result of CBT) can lead to symptoms associated with CPTSD and schizophrenia. We further hypothesize that addressing schema in reverse order of acquisition will reduce the risk hypothesized to be associated with CBT. Drawing on schema theory, developmental stages, and neurobiology this article argues for the validity of these hypotheses. The implications of these models are vast, not only for the field of Autism research, but for the field as a whole. While some of the implications may seem negative for the field (CBT), the authors ultimately support the use of CBT for many situations other than ASD.

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