Tollerfield, Isobel 
ORCID: 0000-0002-8398-3414, Wilkinson, Ewan, Stewart, Alex G ORCID: 0000-0002-4931-5340, Nall-Evans, Sharleen, Michelet, Felix, Elliott, Phil and Jaydeokar, Sujeet
(2023)
Exploring self-harm risk vulnerabilities in autism using the ‘thinking patterns profiling model’.
Discover Psychology, 3 (1).
8-.
Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>Autism has been linked to higher rates of self-harm. Research is yet to establish the reason for the association between autism and self-harm as a distress response.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>Using the ‘thinking patterns profiling model’, this study explored characteristics associated with self-harm risk in 100 autistic young people. Secondary analysis of routinely collected clinical data was conducted using odds ratios and t-tests.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>We found the prevalence of reported self-harm risk was 48%. Young people with reported self-harm risks had significantly lower regulation skills (p ≤ 0.01) and lower social flexibility skills (p ≤ 0.01) compared to those without reported self-harm risk. For those described as impulsive, mean scores on the following skills were significantly lower: perspective-taking skills (p ≤ 0.01), flexible thinking for creative problem-solving (p ≤ 0.05) and sensory tolerating (p ≤ 0.05). There was no relationship between reported self-harm risk and adverse childhood experiences.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>These findings suggest that profiling tools such as ‘Thinking Patterns Profiling Model’ can be used to explore unique patterns of vulnerability and resilience related to self-harm risk in autism. The findings suggest that autistic thinking patterns might interplay with other factors (e.g. impulsivity). Patterns are based on each person’s profile across four core skill-sets: regulation, flexible thinking, sensory coherence, and social perspective-taking. These findings motivate a person-centred and profile-informed approach to planning support and adjustments. Further studies are needed to confirm the ways in which mechanisms typically involved in self-harm risk, may interact with core cognitive and affective differences found in autism.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Basic Behavioral and Social Science, Brain Disorders, Mental Health, Autism, Neurosciences, Clinical Research, Behavioral and Social Science, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Pediatric, 2.1 Biological and endogenous factors, 2 Aetiology, Mental health |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Jan 2024 15:55 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Mar 2024 17:18 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s44202-023-00069-3 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-023-00069-3 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3177649 |
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