The terms 'autism' and 'autistic' derive from the Greek word autos meaning self. This is appropriate to describing the autistic behavioural phenotype in which there is a pathological impairment in socialisation and verbal and non-verbal communication, in addition to behaviour and interests that are often highly restricted and repetitive. The autistic individual often appears isolated, and unable to make sense of the world around them. They often reveal an inability to predict and understand the behaviour of others, and perceptions of the world remain fragmented and are not embedded into a coherent pattern or structure. This book discusses the causes and risks of autism from researchers around the globe.