A brand-new study has actually revealed that a significant variety of people who passed away by suicide were likely autistic, however undiagnosed, highlighting the urgent need for earlier medical diagnosis and tailored support for suicide prevention.
A team of researchers, led by Dr. Sarah Cassidy from the University of Nottingham and Professor Simon Baron-Cohen from the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, are the first to analyze evidence of autism and autistic traits in those who died by suicide in England. They evaluated Coroners inquest records of 372 individuals who died by suicide and also spoke with family members of those who died. The research study was released on February 15, 2022, in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
A team of scientists, led by Dr. Sarah Cassidy from the University of Nottingham and Professor Simon Baron-Cohen from the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, are the very first to examine proof of autism and autistic qualities in those who died by suicide in England. The group initially took a look at the coroners inquests for each death by suicide for indications of raised autistic qualities showing possible undiagnosed autism, or a definite medical diagnosis of autism. After speaking with the families, the researchers found evidence of raised autistic qualities in more people who died by suicide (41%), which is 19 times higher than the rate of autism in the UK.
Around 1% of people in the UK are autistic, yet up to 15% of individuals hospitalized after attempting suicide have a diagnosis of autism. Suicide rates are unacceptably high in autistic individuals and suicide avoidance has to be the number one objective to decrease the worrying increased death in autistic people.
The researchers found that 10% of those who passed away by suicide had proof of elevated autistic characteristics, showing likely undiagnosed autism. This is 11 times greater than the rate of autism in the UK. The research team worked with Coroners offices in 2 regions of England to recognize the records.
The team initially analyzed the coroners inquests for each death by suicide for signs of elevated autistic qualities showing possible undiagnosed autism, or a certain medical diagnosis of autism. Proof of autism was then examined by an independent researcher to ensure that these decisions were trustworthy. The scientists then spoke with 29 of the households, to collect additional evidence to substantiate the raised autistic qualities in those who passed away. After speaking to the families, the researchers discovered proof of elevated autistic traits in more people who died by suicide (41%), which is 19 times greater than the rate of autism in the UK.
Previous research by the exact same group has revealed that up to 66% of autistic adults have actually believed about taking their own life, and 35% have actually tried suicide. Around 1% of individuals in the UK are autistic, yet up to 15% of people hospitalized after trying suicide have a diagnosis of autism.
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition identified on the basis of difficulties in social and communication skills and in adapting to unexpected modification, along with heightened sensory level of sensitivity, abnormally deep interests in specific topics, and a choice for predictability. There are many barriers to obtaining an autism diagnosis, consisting of limited accessibility of diagnostic services, causing long waiting lists. Even post-diagnosis, there are insufficient assistance services for autistic people.
Dr. Sarah Cassidy commented: “Many grownups in the UK find it very difficult to acquire an autism diagnosis and suitable assistance post-diagnosis. Our research study reveals that undiagnosed autistic individuals could be at increased threat of passing away by suicide. It is immediate that access to an autism diagnosis and suitable support post medical diagnosis is enhanced. This is the leading autism community priority for suicide avoidance, and requires to be resolved instantly by commissioners of services and policymakers.”
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen added: “Even a single suicide is an awful tragedy for the person and a traumatic loss for their buddies and households. Suicide rates are unacceptably high in autistic individuals and suicide avoidance needs to be the number one goal to decrease the fretting increased mortality in autistic individuals. Autistic individuals usually die 20 years earlier than non-autistic people, and two huge reasons for this are suicide and epilepsy. We published the initial information on elevated suicide rates back in 2014 as a wake-up call to federal governments, and yet nothing has actually been done.”
Presently, evidence of an autism medical diagnosis or elevated autistic qualities are not generally consisted of in Coroners inquests in England. This research study highlights the need for Coroners to begin to systematically collect evidence of autism and autistic qualities in inquests, to help avoid future deaths. There is also an urgent requirement to deal with the autism community to co-design suicide avoidance services.
Recommendation: “Autism and autistic traits in those who passed away by suicide in England” by Sarah Cassidy, Sheena Au-Yeung, Ashley Robertson, Heather Cogger-Ward, Gareth Richards, Carrie Allison, Louise Bradley, Rebecca Kenny, Rory OConnor, David Mosse, Jacqui Rodgers and Simon Baron-Cohen, 15 February 2022, The British Journal of Psychiatry.DOI: 10.1192/ bjp.2022.21.
The JU receives support from the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and development programme and EFPIA and AUTISM SPEAKS, Autistica, SFARI. SBC also got financing from the Autism Research Trust, the Autism Centre of Excellence at Cambridge, SFARI, the Templeton World Charitable Fund, SFARI, and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. The research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East of England at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.