Autistic Children at Greater Risk of Suicidal Thoughts

Rebecca Lewis March 13, 2013

Children with autism spectrum disorder are a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and suicidal attempts than those who don’t have the disorder – researchers from Penn State University found.

Autism is a common mental disorder that affects a significant number of children worldwide. Most children with autism appear ‘normal’ before age 1 or 2. However, they suddenly ‘regress’ and lose language or social skills.

For the study, researchers analysed the data provided by parents of 791 children with autism, 186 children, and 35 depressed yet non-autistic children ages one to 16 years. In comparing the rate of suicidal contemplation and attempt, several factors were taken into consideration. These include the children’s cognitive ability, age, race, gender and socioeconomic status.

Researchers found that children with autism were more likely to be rated by their parents for suicidal thoughts and attempts than the typical children. However, they are three times less likely to contemplate and attempt to commit suicide than depressed children. Other than having the disorder, being male, black or Hispanic, and having low socioeconomic status were considered significant factors in determining the likelihood for suicide.

The researchers also found that contemplation of suicide is twice more common in children with autism than in males without it. But when it comes to attempts, gender difference doesn’t matter. Furthermore, black and Hispanic children were at a higher risk of suicidal attempt and contemplation (33 per cent and 24 per cent respectively) than whites (13 per cent) and Asian (zero). Contemplations and attempts are also more prevalent among children 10 years or older.

Suicidal contemplations and attempts were absent in 94 per cent of children without any of the identified risk factors.

Researchers also looked at the psychological and behavioural factors associated with an increased risk of suicide contemplation and attempt. The results show that children who are depressed, who have behavioural problems, and were teased and bullied were more likely to think of, and attempt to commit suicide. Among these predictors, depression has the strongest impact. 77 per cent of children with autism who were considered by their parents to be depressed have greater risk of suicidal attempt and contemplation. Meanwhile, intelligence does not predict the likelihood of suicide.

The study was the first large-scale, broad age and IQ-range research that used data provided by parents. Their findings were published in the Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

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Autistic children may be at greater risk of suicide ideation and attempts