Self-harm and suicidality experiences of autistic and non-autistic adults in midlife and old age.
Sophie Roper, Rebecca Charlton, Francesca Happé and 1 others
PMID 41291965WHAT IT FOUND
Middle-aged and older autistic adults self-reported far higher rates of suicidal thoughts and self-harm than non-autistic peers.
Autistic women and those aged 65+ reported the highest risks, even after accounting for depression symptoms.
Key findings
0173.0% of the autistic group had experienced suicidal ideation compared to 25.9% of the non-autistic group, with autistic participants nearly eight times more likely to report these thoughts.
0255.0% of the autistic group had deliberately self-harmed at some point compared to 13.3% of the non-autistic group, and 20.2% of autistic participants had engaged in suicidal self-harm versus 3.6% of non-autistic participants.
03Autistic women reported significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation, self-harming thoughts, and suicidal self-harm than autistic men, while autistic adults aged 65+ reported higher rates of deliberate self-harm than those aged 40–64.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study relies on self-report data, which may not capture experiences accurately for individuals with language difficulties or intellectual disabilities. Recruitment was via online platforms and community adverts, which may introduce selection bias toward those with internet access or specific autism network connections. The cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences about why autism is associated with higher suicidality. Gender diverse participants (n=4) were excluded from analyses due to small numbers, limiting understanding of their specific risks. Survivor bias may skew results by excluding individuals who have died by suicide, potentially underestimating the true prevalence of lethal self-harm.
Declared interests
The authors declare no competing interests. The study was supported by Autistica and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) UK Dementia Research Institute.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that autism directly causes suicidality or that depression is the only mechanism. The study shows an association, and while autism risk persisted after controlling for depression, it does not prove causation or rule out other unmeasured social and environmental factors.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →