Relationship between autism spectrum disorder and suicide: a narrative review

Streszczenie

Introduction: Suicide is a complex issue that must be considered within an interdisciplinary context, regarding the role of sociocultural factors such as support, values, beliefs, economic status, upbringing, and stigma. The objective of this article is to review and raise awareness of current evidence-based data regarding suicidality among people with ASD, by analysing the latest academic papers. It is noted that people with ASD are at elevated risk of suicidal behaviour.

Materials and methods: The search for relevant materials was conducted using the PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases. Articles were chosen according to their significance, with a focus on the risk factors and management of suicidality among people with autism spectrum disorder.

Results: The article identified risk factors of suicide behaviours among people with ASD such as co-occurring mental health conditions, difficulty in expressing emotions, social isolation, bullying and victimisation, lack of access to mental health care, and difficulty in adapting to change. To prevent suicide in individuals with ASD, it is essential to identify and address these risk factors and provide appropriate support and interventions.

Conclusions: The review of published literature provides insights into manifestations of ASD and the common features associated with the disorder. Evidence-based treatments and interventions for ASD are evolving over time, and there is a great demand for randomised controlled trials to investigate their effectiveness. Clinicians’ knowledge and attitudes play a crucial role in suicide prevention for individuals with ASD, and there is a need for reliable, adapted risk-assessment tools.