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Exploring self-harm risk vulnerabilities in autism using the ‘thinking patterns profiling model’
Tollerfield, Isobel Wilkinson, Ewan Stewart, Alex G. Nall-Evans, Sharleen Michelet, Felix Elliott, Phil Jaydeokar, Sujeet
Tollerfield, Isobel
Wilkinson, Ewan
Stewart, Alex G.
Nall-Evans, Sharleen
Michelet, Felix
Elliott, Phil
Jaydeokar, Sujeet
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Publication Date
2023-03-20
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Abstract
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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.
Citation
Tollerfield, I., Wilkinson, E., Stewart, A. G., Nall-Evans, S., Michelet, F., Elliott, P., & Jaydeokar, S. (2023). Exploring self-harm risk vulnerabilities in autism using the ‘thinking patterns profiling model’. Discover Psychology, 3(1), article-number 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-023-00069-3
Publisher
Springer
Journal
Discover Psychology
Research Unit
DOI
10.1007/s44202-023-00069-3
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PubMed Central ID
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Article
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EISSN
2731-4537