Phd in CLINICAL EXPERIMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE AND PSYCHIATRY

Thesis title: Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Albania

Autism Spectrum Disorder is the most global developmental disorder all over the world and has an important impact on families and communities. There is a high increase in cases of ASD everywhere in the world. In Albania there is no data regarding the prevalence of ASD. This is the first epidemiological study on the prevalence of ASD in Albania, conducted among 7-9-year-old children who attend school, in Vlore and Tirana, during the 2020-2021 school year. The study was carried out through a multistage design divided into two phases to identify 7-9-year- old children with ASD. In the first phase, cases with ASD were identified from the data of the educational directorates of Vlore and Tirana. In the second phase, cases with ASD were identified by questionnaires with teachers Teacher Report Form (TRF 6 – 18/ 2001) and parents Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 6 – 18/ 2001), then confirming the diagnosis through Childhood Autism Rating Scale – second edition (CASR-2). The results of the research showed that the prevalence of ASD among children 7-9 years old attending school in Albania is 1.7%, one in 59 children. The highest results are in Tirana, which is also the largest urban center in the country. There are reported more males than females. The difference in the prevalence of the large sample population of 1.2% and the concentrated population of 1.7% shows the need for screening and diagnosis properly, in order to build services according to the needs of all individuals with ASD. This study constitutes an added value for the existing literature in the field of ASD contributing as a starting point for future studies that will be undertaken by the author and other authors of the related field in Albania. Regarding the tangible benefits for the subjects included in this research, it will serve as a reference for epidemiological data of prevalence in Albania in the future. It will serve professionals in the field of development disabilities, social policies, the education system and parents of children with ASD, to create strategies and services in the early intervention and for the treatment of ASD. Keywords: ASD, prevalence, diagnosis, Albania.