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Clinical Perspectives
The Mifne Method — ISRAEL
Early intervention in the treatment of autism/PDD: A therapeutic programme for the nuclear family and their child
Abstract
The paper will present the Mifne (turning point) Method for early intervention in the
treatment of the Autism spectrum, which has been developed as an intensive,
short-term therapy programme for infants: the
youngest infant treated at the Center was five months old. The Mifne approach is derived from attachment theory. The programme is designed to treat families with children under
the age of five. The sequential programme includes
three stages:
1. Intensive system therapy for the nuclear family that continues for
a three week period in residence at the Center.
2. Follow-up treatment takes place at the family home.
3. Integration of the child into mainstream education.
A retrospective evaluation of
the programme undertaken by the Schneider Children's
Medical Center revealed that children showed improvement on almost all items of
two scales: the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Social Behavior
Rating Scale (SBRS). Total scores on both scales showed significant improvement
after three weeks and after six months. Follow-up data shows that 73% of the
children treated at the Center have been integrated in mainstream schools.
Clearly, ea
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2004, 16(1): 39–43
treatment of the Autism spectrum, which has been developed as an intensive,
short-term therapy programme for infants: the
youngest infant treated at the Center was five months old. The Mifne approach is derived from attachment theory. The programme is designed to treat families with children under
the age of five. The sequential programme includes
three stages:
1. Intensive system therapy for the nuclear family that continues for
a three week period in residence at the Center.
2. Follow-up treatment takes place at the family home.
3. Integration of the child into mainstream education.
A retrospective evaluation of
the programme undertaken by the Schneider Children's
Medical Center revealed that children showed improvement on almost all items of
two scales: the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Social Behavior
Rating Scale (SBRS). Total scores on both scales showed significant improvement
after three weeks and after six months. Follow-up data shows that 73% of the
children treated at the Center have been integrated in mainstream schools.
Clearly, ea
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2004, 16(1): 39–43
