Autism, from the Greek word for “self,” was first identified as a disorder in 1943. Initially, it was thought to be a psychological disorder brought on by cold or unemotional mothers, and curable by intensive sessions of psychotherapy. During the 1960s, specialists realized that autistics frequently had epilepsy and abnormal brain scans, which led to the condition being recognized as a brain disorder by the 1970s. Autism is now known to be a hereditary neurological condition, about three times more common in boys than girls. Usually, autistics lack the ability to relate normally to other people and have an anxious desire to maintain a routine, which evolves with age into intense interests or obsessions. Many autistic people deliver monologues on topics while unaware of other people’s comments or possible discomfort. There are several related, but different, forms of autism. Depending on the severity, symptoms can sometimes be alleviated with carefully controlled antidepressants, although sufferers typically find it difficult to function normally in society.