Psychosocial Care for Children and Adolescents with Autism in the CAPSi of the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area

Centers for Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Care (CAPSi) are public institutions for the care of children and adolescents with serious mental health problems, including those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A review of the Brazilian literature indicates a lack of systematized information on the treatment offered to such patients. This study presents and discusses data related to psychosocial profiles and therapeutic projects for patients with autism and their families at the CAPSi located in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. Methodology: a descriptive, quantitative study based on questionnaires sent to 14 CAPSi in 2011. Results: 782 patients were diagnosed with autism in the surveyed CAPSi, comprising 1/3 of patients receiving care. The majority were male, aged 10 to 19 years. Most lived with their family in the service’s coverage area and received semi-intensive care, with individual and collective assistance, including to family members. About 1/5 were out of school and less than 1/3 received the Benefício de Prestação Continuada da Lei Orgânica da Assistência Social (BPC - Loas [Continuous Benefit of the Social Assistance Organic Law]). It was concluded that the CAPSi of the region offered care to a significant number of autistics, requiring, however, investment in intersectorial coordination to expand social inclusion conditions, improvement in care information and incentive to use evaluation methodologies to train professionals providing care to autism patients and others.