Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults
Background: Research has shown high rates of suicidality in Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), but there is lack of research into why this is the case. Many common experiences of autistic adults, such as depression or unemployment, overlap with known risk markers for suicide in the general population...
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BioMed Central
2018
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53119/ |
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| author | Cassidy, Sarah Bradley, Louise Shaw, Rebecca Baron-Cohen, Simon |
| author_facet | Cassidy, Sarah Bradley, Louise Shaw, Rebecca Baron-Cohen, Simon |
| author_sort | Cassidy, Sarah |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Research has shown high rates of suicidality in Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), but there is lack of research into why this is the case. Many common experiences of autistic adults, such as depression or unemployment, overlap with known risk markers for suicide in the general population. However, it is unknown whether there are risk markers unique to ASC that require new tailored suicide prevention strategies.
Methods: Through consultation with a steering group of autistic adults, a survey was developed aiming to identify unique risk markers for suicidality in this group. The survey measured suicidality (SBQ-R); non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI-AT); mental health problems; unmet support needs; employment; satisfaction with living arrangements; self-reported autistic traits (AQ); delay in ASC diagnosis; and ‘camouflaging’ ASC.
Participants: 164 autistic adults (65 male, 99 female), and 169 general population adults (54 male, 115 female) completed the survey online.
Results: A majority of autistic adults (72%) scored above the recommended psychiatric cut off for suicide risk on the SBQ-R; significantly higher than general population (GP) adults (33%). After statistically controlling for a range of demographics and diagnoses: ASC diagnosis and self-reported autistic traits in the general population significantly predicted suicidality. In autistic adults, non-suicidal self-injury, ‘camouflaging’, and number of unmet support needs significantly predicted suicidality.
Conclusions: Results confirm previously reported high rates of suicidality in ASC, and demonstrate that ASC diagnosis, and self-reported autistic traits in the general population are independent risk markers for suicidality. This suggests there are unique factors associated. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:26:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-53119 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:26:50Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | BioMed Central |
| recordtype | eprints |
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| spelling | nottingham-531192020-05-04T19:47:11Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53119/ Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults Cassidy, Sarah Bradley, Louise Shaw, Rebecca Baron-Cohen, Simon Background: Research has shown high rates of suicidality in Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), but there is lack of research into why this is the case. Many common experiences of autistic adults, such as depression or unemployment, overlap with known risk markers for suicide in the general population. However, it is unknown whether there are risk markers unique to ASC that require new tailored suicide prevention strategies. Methods: Through consultation with a steering group of autistic adults, a survey was developed aiming to identify unique risk markers for suicidality in this group. The survey measured suicidality (SBQ-R); non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI-AT); mental health problems; unmet support needs; employment; satisfaction with living arrangements; self-reported autistic traits (AQ); delay in ASC diagnosis; and ‘camouflaging’ ASC. Participants: 164 autistic adults (65 male, 99 female), and 169 general population adults (54 male, 115 female) completed the survey online. Results: A majority of autistic adults (72%) scored above the recommended psychiatric cut off for suicide risk on the SBQ-R; significantly higher than general population (GP) adults (33%). After statistically controlling for a range of demographics and diagnoses: ASC diagnosis and self-reported autistic traits in the general population significantly predicted suicidality. In autistic adults, non-suicidal self-injury, ‘camouflaging’, and number of unmet support needs significantly predicted suicidality. Conclusions: Results confirm previously reported high rates of suicidality in ASC, and demonstrate that ASC diagnosis, and self-reported autistic traits in the general population are independent risk markers for suicidality. This suggests there are unique factors associated. BioMed Central 2018-07-22 Article PeerReviewed Cassidy, Sarah, Bradley, Louise, Shaw, Rebecca and Baron-Cohen, Simon (2018) Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults. Molecular Autism, 9 . p. 42. ISSN 2040-2392 (In Press) Autism Spectrum Condition; Autistic traits; Suicidality; Non-Suicidal Self-Injury; NSSI; SBQ-R; NSSI-AT; Risk markers; Mental health; Depression; Anxiety. https://molecularautism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4 doi:10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4 doi:10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4 |
| spellingShingle | Autism Spectrum Condition; Autistic traits; Suicidality; Non-Suicidal Self-Injury; NSSI; SBQ-R; NSSI-AT; Risk markers; Mental health; Depression; Anxiety. Cassidy, Sarah Bradley, Louise Shaw, Rebecca Baron-Cohen, Simon Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults |
| title | Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults |
| title_full | Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults |
| title_fullStr | Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults |
| title_short | Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults |
| title_sort | risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults |
| topic | Autism Spectrum Condition; Autistic traits; Suicidality; Non-Suicidal Self-Injury; NSSI; SBQ-R; NSSI-AT; Risk markers; Mental health; Depression; Anxiety. |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53119/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53119/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53119/ |