Citation

Masi G, Scullin S, Narzisi A, Muratori P, Paciello M, Fabiani D, Lenzi F, Mucci M, D'acunto G. Brain Sci. 2020; 10(10): 1-13.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Switzerland Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI) AG)

DOI

10.3390/brainsci10100750

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescents are closely associated to bipolar disorders (BD). Growing evidence also suggests that high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HF-ASD) are at increased risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors. Although BD and HF-ASD are frequently comorbid, no studies explored suicidality in these individuals. This exploratory study addressed this issue in a clinical group of inpatient adolescents referred to a psychiatric emergency unit. Seventeen adolescents with BD and HF-ASD and severe suicidal ideation or attempts (BD-ASD-S), were compared to 17 adolescents with BD and HF-ASD without suicidal ideation or attempts (BD-ASD-noS), and to 18 adolescents with BD and suicidal ideation or attempts without ASD (BD-noASD-S), using a structured assessment methodology. Individuals with BD-ASD-S had a higher intelligence quotient, more severe clinical impairment, more lethality in suicide attempts, more internalizing symptoms, less impulsiveness, and lower social competence. Severity of ASD traits in individuals and parents did not correlate with suicidal risk. Some dimensions of resilience were protective in terms of repulsion by life and attraction to death. Main limitations are the small sample size, the lack of a control group of typically developing adolescents. However, a better understanding of the specificities of bipolar HF-ASD individuals with suicidality may improve prevention and treatment strategies. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; human; female; male; Suicidal attempts; autism; bipolar disorder; Bipolar disorder; Adolescence; pilot study; suicidal ideation; depression; Suicidal ideation; aggression; anxiety; suicide attempt; suicidal behavior; disease severity; Autism spectrum disorder; comparative study; major clinical study; normal human; human experiment; impulsiveness; Article; Clinical Global Impression scale; social competence; Child Behavior Checklist; Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale; mental function assessment; Wechsler intelligence scale; Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11; Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule; Child Global Assessment Scale; Multi Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale; Perceptual Reasoning Index; Processing Speed Index; psychological resilience scale; Verbal Comprehension index; Working Memory Index