Citation

South M, Beck JS, Lundwall R, Christensen M, Cutrer‐Párraga EA, Gabrielsen TP, Cox JC, Lundwall RA. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10803-019-04324-2

PMID

31820343

Abstract

Understanding the cognitive and emotional mechanisms that link autistic traits and risk for suicide is a vital next step for research and clinical practice. This study included a broad sample of adult women (n = 74) who report finding social situations confusing and/or exhausting, and who score high on measures of autistic traits. Regardless of autism diagnostic status, these women reported high rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Depression symptoms were more associated with suicidality than were autistic trait measures of social communication. Measures of neurotypical "imagination" and of repetitive behavior likewise were associated with suicidality risk. Simultaneously feeling sad and feeling stuck or unable to imagine alternate strategies, may uniquely increase suicide risk in autism.

Language: en

Keywords

Autism; Autistic traits; Depression; Females; Flexibility; Suicidal thoughts and behaviors; Suicide; Women