Adults with Asperger's syndrome at increased risk of suicidal thoughts

Adults with Asperger’s syndrome are nine times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than the general population, according to recent study findings published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

Sarah Cassidy, PhD, of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, and colleagues evaluated 374 adults diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (mean age at diagnosis, 31.5 years) between 2004 and 2013 from the Cambridge Lifetime Asperger Syndrome Service (CLASS) to determine rates of suicidal thoughts among them, as well as possible associations between depression, autistic traits, and suicide plans or attempts. Rates of suicidal thoughts were compared to the rate in the general population in the United Kingdom, and other clinical groups.

Sixty-six percent of participants reported suicidal thoughts and 35% reported plans or attempts of suicide throughout their lifetime. About one-third also reported having a history of depression. No significant differences were found between men and women for depression (P=.787), suicidal thoughts (P=.164), and plans or attempts (P=.06).

Compared with participants without depression, those with depression were more likely to report suicidal thoughts (OR=4.3; 95% CI, 2.4-7.7) and plans or attempts (OR=2.4; 95% CI, 1.5-3.8).

Suicidal thoughts were more common among participants compared with the general population (OR=9.6; 95% CI, 7.6 -11.9), people with one medical illness (OR=5.8; 95% CI, 4.6-7.4), people with two or more medical illnesses (OR=3.6; 95% CI, 2.7-4.9) and people with a psychotic illness (OR=1.3; 95% CI, 1-1.7).

“Adults with Asperger's syndrome experience many risk factors for depression and suicide, including lack of support services, poor health outcomes, social exclusion, under-achievement, and unemployment,” Cassidy told Healio.com. “Our findings confirm anecdotal reports that adults with Asperger Syndrome have a significantly higher risk of suicide in comparison to other clinical groups, and that depression is a key risk factor in this. This risk is preventable with the appropriate support, and demonstrates the need for high quality services for these individuals.” — by Amber Cox

Disclosure: The study was funded in part by the Autism Research Trust, Baily Thomas Foundation, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, The Medical Research Council, NIHR-CLAHRC-EoE, and the Three Guineas Trust. The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.