29509
Suicidality in Autism Spectrum Disorder Comorbid with ADHD Symptoms in a Non-Clinical School-Aged Population

Poster Presentation
Saturday, May 4, 2019: 11:30 AM-1:30 PM
Room: 710 (Palais des congres de Montreal)
M. Adachi1, M. Takahashi1, T. Hirota2, N. Takayanagi3, S. Yasuda4, Y. Sakamoto5, M. Saito5 and K. Nakamura5, (1)Research Center for Child Mental Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan, (2)University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, (3)Aichi Toho University, Nagoya, Japan, (4)Research Center for Child Mental Development Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan, (5)Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
Background: Recent studies have indicated an association between autistic traits and suicidality in clinical and non-clinical cohorts (Cassidy et al., 2014; Pelton & Cassidy, 2017). Attention deficits and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which are highly comorbid with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), were also reportedly associated with suicide (Impey & Heun, 2012).

Objectives: However, to our knowledge, no studies have yet examined the relationship between ASD and suicidality considering the comorbidity of ADHD symptoms.Therefore, this study examined how ASD and ADHD symptoms interact with suicidal ideation in non-clinical school-aged population.

Methods: A 1-year, prospective school survey including 8,669 children aged 6–14 years at baseline and their parents was conducted in 2016 (time 1) and 2017 (time 2). At time 1, we administered parent-reported ASD and ADHD traits scale (ASD: Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, ADHD: ADHD-Rating Scale)- and self-reported depression scale (Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children: DSRS-C)-based questionnaires, which included items of suicidal ideation. At time 2, DSRS-C was re-administered. For group comparison, participants were divided into eight groups according to the combination of ASD and ADHD traits: (1) non-risk, (2) ASD at risk, (3) inattention (IA) at risk, (4) hyperactivity (HA) at risk, (5) ADHD at risk, (6) ASD + IA at risk, (7) ASD + HA at risk, and (8) ASD + ADHD at risk. Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed with groups as an independent variable and suicidal ideation scores at time 2 as a dependent variable. Subsequently, a series of pass models was computed to examine whether ASD and ADHD traits predict suicidal ideation. Cross-sectional associations at time 1 and longitudinal associations at time 2 were examined.

Results: Kruskal–Wallis tests revealed that ASD and ADHD traits were risk factors for suicidal ideation. Pair-wise comparison revealed that suicidal ideation was significantly higher in the ASD + IA group than in the other groups (ASD + IA > ASD at risk, IA at risk, HA at risk, ADHD at risk, p < .01). Results of the path analysis revealed that higher ASD and IA traits were associated with higher levels of suicidal ideation at time 1 (ASD: b = .076 BCa, CI [.048, .103], p < .001; IA: b = .120 BCa, CI [.085, .155], p < .001). There was a significant indirect effect of ASD and IA traits on suicidal ideation at time 1 through suicidal ideation at time 2 (ASD: b = .040 BCa, CI [.025, .054], p < .001; IA: b = .062 BCa, CI [.044, .081], p < .001). These results indicate that higher ASD and IA traits predict a higher risk for suicidal ideation at time 2 by mediating suicidal ideation at time 1. HA traits consistently showed no significant association with depression and suicidal ideation.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that autistic and inattentive symptoms were risk factors for suicidality. Individuals with inattentive symptoms of ASD have a higher risk for suicide.

See more of: Epidemiology/population studies
See more of: Epidemiology/Population Studies