Glossary

PABI is an acronym for the Penguin for Autism Behavioral Interventions, a compact humanoid robot.

Packing therapy involves wrapping the individual in towels previously wet in cold water. The individual is then wrapped with blankets to help the body warm up.

PACT is an acronym for the Pre-school Autism Communication Trial, a programme developed by the University of Manchester in the UK.

PACTS is an acronym for Parents of Autistic Children Training and Support, a programme of early intensive behavioural intervention devised by the London Borough of Bexley.

Paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcusis (PANDAS) is a condition in which children develop antibodies which attack the basal ganglia in the brain as well as those bacteria.

Paired associative learning is a teaching method which involves the learner experiencing two stimuli at once or in close proximity and beginning to associate them.

The palaeolithic diet requires you to follow the diet believed to have been followed by early humans.

Paliperidone is an atypical antipsychotic drug, sold under the brand name Invega, used to treat delusional psychosis.

Pamelor is a brand name for nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant.

PANDAS is an acronym for paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcusis, a condition in which children develop antibodies which attack the basal ganglia in the brain as well as those bacteria.

Pangamatic or pangamatic acid is another name for dimethylglycine (DMG), a derivative of the amino acid glycine.

Papain is an enzyme present in the leaves, latex, roots, and fruit of the papaya plant that catalyzes the breakdown of proteins by addition of a water molecule

A paramedic is a person who is trained to do medical work, especially emergency first aid, but is not a fully qualified doctor.

Everybody experiences suspicious or irrational thoughts from time to time. These fears are described as paranoid when they are exaggerated and there is no evidence that they are true.

Parasomnias are undesirable physical experiences which occur within sleep or during arousal from sleep.

Parent communication responses that acknowledge, confirm or reinforce the child’s focus, play, actions,
thoughts or intentions; in tune with what the child is thinking, saying or doing rather than redirecting the
child away from his play, thoughts or communication.

Parent education programmes are designed to tell parents about autism, related issues (such as sleep problems) and the interventions and services that may be available to them.

Parent support programmes are designed to provide parents and carers with various forms of support.

Parent training programmes may be designed to teach parents how to deliver interventions to their own children (child-focused programmes) or they may be designed to teach parents how to cope with the difficulties of having a child on the autism spectrum (parent-focused programmes).

Parents Taking Action is a comprehensive, multi-component treatment model for parents of Latino children on the autism spectrum based around the use of a promotora de salud (community health worker).