This 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis by Victoria Newell et al., published in Molecular Autism, provides a comprehensive synthesis of suicidality rates among autistic and possibly autistic individuals without co-occurring intellectual disability.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36922899/
Study Purpose
The study had three main goals:
- Estimate pooled prevalence of suicidality (ideation, planning, attempts/behaviors) in autistic and possibly autistic individuals without intellectual disability.
- Examine moderators (participant and study-level variables) that might explain differences in suicidality rates.
- Evaluate the quality of the evidence.
Methods
Databases searched: PsycINFO, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science (1992–Jan 25, 2022).
- Included: Quantitative studies reporting suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts/behaviors in relevant populations.
- Used random-effects meta-analysis due to high variability between studies.
- Included 36 studies with 48,186 participants.
Results
Pooled Prevalence Rates
Suicidal Ideation: 34.2% (95% CI: 27.9–40.5%)
- Suicide Plans: 21.9% (13.4–30.4%)
- Suicide Attempts/Behaviors: 24.3% (18.9–29.6%)
These rates are significantly higher than those typically found in the general population.
Heterogeneity
High heterogeneity in all categories (I² > 75%), indicating wide variation across studies.
Moderators
- Suicidal Ideation was significantly influenced by:
- Geographic location (p = 0.005)
- Type of reporting (self-report vs. clinical records) (p < 0.001)
- Suicide Plans were significantly moderated by:
- Age group (p = 0.001)
- Type of suicidality measure used (p = 0.001)
- No moderators were significant for suicide attempts and behaviors.
Conclusions
Suicidality is alarmingly high in both autistic and possibly autistic people without intellectual disability.
- Possibly autistic individuals are an under-researched group that may have similarly elevated risks and should not be overlooked.
- Findings suggest urgent clinical and public health action is needed, especially for groups with intersecting vulnerabilities.