Exploring Patterns of Self-Harm in Autistic Adults Using the Card Sort Task for Self-Harm

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Autistic adults exhibit higher self-harm prevalence compared to non-autistic adults.
• Existing tools inadequately assess self-harm patterns in autistic populations.
• Understanding the unique experiences of self-harm in autistic individuals is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accessibility of the Card Sort Task for Self-Harm (CaTS) for autistic adults.
• To pilot the CaTS for identifying proximal and distal factors contributing to self-harm.
• To explore post-self-harm experiences using the CaTS.

Main Methods:

• Co-design and accessibility review of the CaTS with autistic adults (n=5).
• Pilot administration of the CaTS to autistic or possibly autistic adults (n=29).
• Sequence analysis to identify transitions between factors before and after self-harm.

Main Results:

• The CaTS was found to be accessible and useful for exploring self-harm in autistic adults.
• Frequently reported pre-self-harm factors included agitation and impulsivity.
• Post-self-harm experiences commonly involved feeling better, worse, exhausted, or hopeless.

Conclusions:

• The CaTS provides a systematic method for understanding self-harm in autistic adults.
• Interventions focusing on emotion regulation and communication needs may reduce self-harm.
• Further research should explore targeted support for impulsivity and self-harm prevention.