Psychiatric Disorders Explain Heightened Risk for Self-harm in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Reasons for elevated Suicide risk, attempted suicides, and other self-harm among adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders have been revealed by a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.// Comorbid disorders, particularly non-affective psychoses and affective and anxiety disorders, revealed the risk.

A new study at the University of Turku pointed out that autistic children and youth did not have a high risk of accidental death. The higher risk of premature death was associated with natural reasons. In those cases, the risk was relatively highest among females and subjects with intellectual disability.

The conclusion of this study is in line with previous studies. The result is probably related to the fact that autistic females have a greater risk for intellectual disability and, for instance, to epilepsy than males, says Postdoctoral Researcher Elina Jokiranta-Olkoniemi of the Department of Child Psychiatry of the University of Turku, Finland.

The outcomes were the same when other factors, such as the mother's socioeconomic status or the psychiatric disorders within the family members, were considered.

Core symptoms of autism make it more challenging to receive help for other psychiatric symptoms.

The danger of self-harm in autistic adolescents and young adults is almost double compared to their peers. Based on the results, it is essential that public health care is able to identify their psychiatric symptoms as early as possible and provide efficient care.

The challenge is that the core signs of autism; in other words, the challenges of social intercourse and communication, can make it more challenging to search for help. Thus, it is hard to identify psychiatric disorders and provide efficient care, Jokiranta-Olkoniemi says.

Source-Medindia