Symposia
Autism Spectrum and Developmental Disorders
Brenna Maddox, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carrboro, North Carolina
Stephen Shore, EdD
Assistant Professor
Adelphi University
Garden City, New York
Teal Benevides, PhD, MS, OTR/L
Associate Professor
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia
Shari Jager-Hyman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Background: Suicide is a leading cause of premature death for autistic individuals. The autism community has identified suicide prevention as a top priority, yet there is a large evidence gap about best practices to reduce suicide risk in autistic individuals. This presentation will focus on a recently funded Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) study comparing the effectiveness of two suicide prevention interventions for autistic adolescents and young adults. Consistent with PCORI’s mission, this study is committed to stakeholder engagement throughout the entire research process.
Methods: At four diverse health systems across the United States, 150 clinicians will be randomly assigned to deliver one of two evidence-based suicide prevention strategies adapted for autistic individuals: the Safety Planning Intervention tailored for autistic individuals with or without a structured follow-up. Patient participants will be 1,500 autistic youth (15-24 years) who receive a tailored safety plan. This study is in direct response to research priorities identified by a PCORI-funded stakeholder team, Autistic Adults and other Stakeholders Engage Together (AASET). AASET members are actively involved in advisory and key research roles for the current study.
Results: AASET members worked with the Principal Investigators to refine research questions, identify priority outcomes, create opportunities for authentic autistic involvement in study roles, and ensure methods were congruent with autistic priorities. Ongoing stakeholder engagement has led to improved acceptability, feasibility, and relevance of study procedures. By November 2022, we will have results to share about the feasibility and acceptability of the clinician training program, which is co-developed and co-delivered with autistic stakeholders.
Conclusion: Meaningfully and authentically including autistic individuals and their family members as research partners is crucial for advancing suicide prevention efforts. This presentation will include practical recommendations for stakeholder-engaged work focused on emergency and disaster preparedness and response, in alignment with the 2022 ABCT convention theme.