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ADULTS WITH ASPERGER Syndrome are nine times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts than the general population.
According to a study from the Cambridge University’s Cambridge Lifetime Asperger Syndrome Service (CLASS) clinic that was published in The Lancet Psychiatry, there is a higher rate of suicidal ideation among adults with Asperger Syndrome, at 66 per cent, compared with the rate found in the general population at just 17 per cent.
Asperger Syndrome is part of the autistic spectrum and shares some of the same characteristics as autism.
Asperger syndrome in adulthood is frequently associated with depression, but few studies have explored the lifetime experience of self-reported suicidal ideation and suicide plans or attempts within this group.
The study surveyed 374 individuals (256 men and 118 women) diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome between 2004 and 2013 who attend the clinic.
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Suicide
While two-thirds of adults with Asperger Syndrome had contemplated suicide, 35 per cent said they had planned or attempted suicide during their lifetime.
Suicidal thoughts and behaviours were significantly more common in adults with Asperger Syndrome and a history of depression.
Among adults with Asperger Syndrome, those with depression were four times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and twice as likely to plan or attempt suicide, compared to individuals with Asperger Syndrome but without a history of depression.
A second risk factor for suicide plans or attempts was a higher level of autistic traits.
According to Dr Sarah Cassidy, who carried out the research with Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, from the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, adults with Asperger Syndrome often suffer with secondary depression due to social isolation, loneliness, social exclusion, lack of community services, under-achievement, and unemployment.
“Their depression and risk of suicide are preventable with the appropriate support. This study should be a wake-up call for the urgent need for high quality services, to prevent the tragic waste of even a single life,” she said.
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I would say that this is the new ‘normal’ and things will likely stay like this for some time.
Good news if so in that it isn’t getting any worse but bad news in that it isn’t getting any better.
With any luck, when we look back in 20 years we will see the last year or two as the low point.
Funny the pr spin from government and the business lobby over Xmas was shops had an increase in sales and footfall. Somebody is lying here or they can’t calculate the information properly hence explains how we got into this mess.
Fairly obvious ! No one buying houses = no furniture sales ? Even changing the unlucky 13 to 131 can’t make up for general lack of money and unemployment ….etc
It would b interesting to see how these figures compaer with 07,08 ,09- allowing for inlaltion – and when calculating inflation one assumes food and energy are included .
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