Citation

La Buissonnière Ariza V, Schneider SC, Cepeda SL, Wood JJ, Kendall PC, Small BJ, Wood KS, Kerns C, Saxena K, Storch EA. Child Psychiatry Hum. Dev. 2022; 53(2): 223-236.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10578-020-01114-1

PMID

33462740

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at elevated risk of suicidal ideation, particularly those with comorbid anxiety disorders and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We investigated the risk factors associated with suicidal ideation in 166 children with ASD and comorbid anxiety disorders/OCD, and the unique contribution of externalizing behaviors. Suicidal ideation was reported in the child sample by 13% of parents. Controlling for child age, sex, and IQ, perceived loneliness positively predicted the likelihood of suicidal ideation. In addition, externalizing behaviors positively predicted suicidal ideation, controlling for all other factors. Reliance on parental report to detect suicidal ideation in youth with ASD is a limitation of this study. Nonetheless, these findings highlight the importance of assessing and addressing suicidal ideation in children with ASD and comorbid anxiety disorders/OCD, and more importantly in those with elevated externalizing behaviors and perceptions of loneliness.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Child; Adolescent; Anxiety; Suicidal Ideation; Suicidal thoughts; Anxiety Disorders; OCD; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; ASD; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Externalizing behaviors