Autism spectrum disorder and ADHD increase from 1.07 to 1.65 times: Food and Drug Daily KFDN Food and Medicine News

Research results have shown that the likelihood of self-harm and suicidal tendencies varies according to other mental illnesses of patients with autism spectrum disorder. The results of this study were published in the international academic journal ‘eClinical Medicine (IF 9.6).’

The research team at Severance Hospital pediatric psychiatry professor Cheon Geun-ah, Yonsei University College of Medicine researcher Kim Jae-han, and student Joo-hyun Lee, found that when patients with attention-deficit disorder have ADHD communication disorder, the likelihood of self-harm increases from 1.07 to 1.65 times, and the likelihood of self-harm and suicidal tendency increases according to the mental illness a is accompanied by what appears at work.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes difficulty in social interaction, limited interests, and repetitive behaviors. A recent study found that the likelihood of self-harm and suicidal effects in patients with autism spectrum disorder is three times higher than normal ones. Suicidality is a concept that includes suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts, and suicide itself.

A characteristic of autism spectrum disorder is that patients often have other mental illnesses. Until now, not enough research has been done on how the appearance of self-harm and suicide varies according to the type of mental illness a patient has.

To investigate these changes, the research team analyzed 20 previous studies that examined the relationship between patients with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring mental illnesses using a systematic literature review method. .

The likelihood of self-harm among patients with autism spectrum disorder increased from 1.07 times to 1.65 times if ADHD was present, and to 1.26 times if behavioral disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder were present .

The likelihood of suicidal tendencies in patients with autism spectrum disorders accompanied by psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, whose main symptoms are delusions and hallucinations, increased from 1.95 to 10.97 times, and in the case of mood disorders from 1.75 to 9.82 hours. In particular, among mood disorders, the rate increased 2.29 times when it was accompanied by a depressive disorder, and from 2.55 times to 4.95 times when it was accompanied by a bipolar disorder.

Professor Cheon Geun-ah said, “Patients with autism spectrum disorder who have psychiatric comorbidities are at high risk of self-harm and suicidal tendencies that are not easily revealed to the outside world , and medical personnel must recognize these risks early and reduce them. through active intervention.