Brazilian scientific output on autism spectrum disorders.

Summary: Brazil is showing a growing dedication to understanding autism, with a surge of research produced between 2002 and 2009. A review of this scientific output reveals that most studies come from public universities in the Southeast region. While the interest is high—evidenced by over 100 theses and nearly 100 published articles—there is a hurdle to overcome. Many of these studies rely on small groups of participants or remain as unpublished Master's theses. To truly make a mark on the global stage, Brazilian researchers need to conduct larger studies that can reach high-impact international journals.