1. Self-harm and Suicidality Experiences of Middle-Age and Older Adults With vs. Without High Autistic Traits.
- Author
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Stewart, Gavin R., Corbett, Anne, Ballard, Clive, Creese, Byron, Aarsland, Dag, Hampshire, Adam, Charlton, Rebecca A., and Happé, Francesca
- Subjects
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CROSS-sectional method , *SUICIDAL ideation , *RISK assessment , *COMPARATIVE studies , *AUTISM , *MENTAL depression , *RESEARCH funding , *SELF-mutilation , *DISEASE complications , *MIDDLE age , *OLD age - Abstract
Suicide has been identified as a leading cause of premature death in autistic populations. Elevated autistic traits have also been associated with higher rates of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicidal self-harm in the general population, but this has yet to be examined in older age. Using baseline cross-sectional data from the PROTECT study, middle-age and older adults with high autistic traits (n = 276) had significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation, deliberate self-harm, and suicidal self-harm than an age/sex-matched comparison group (n = 10,495). These differences represented a 5- to 6-fold increase in likelihood for self-harming and suicidality. These findings, which remained when controlling for depression symptoms, suggest that middle-age and older adults with high autistic traits may be particularly at risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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