Journal article
Toward improved understanding and treatment of self-injurious behaviors in autistic individuals with profound intellectual disability
Autism research, v 18(2), pp 261-272
Feb 2025
PMID: 39688125
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) commonly occur in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and span diverse topographies of self-inflicted behaviors ranging from head banging to hitting oneself against hard objects. Despite the high rates of SIB in autistic individuals, relatively little research has focused on psychological factors associated with the development and maintenance of SIB in individuals with autism and moderate-profound intellectual disability (ID). This commentary synthesizes existing literature on SIB and highlights the need for more research focused on psychological correlates and mechanisms in autistic individuals with moderate-profound ID. We highlight the key role of difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) and co-occurring internalizing symptoms in the manifestation of self-harm behaviors in clinical samples and autism. Furthermore, this commentary proposes a framework for understanding the interplay between poor ER and internalizing symptoms in the development and maintenance of SIB in autistic individuals with moderate-profound ID. Specifically, we explore the emergence of SIB in the context of precipitating cues that trigger strong emotions, ER processes and strategy deployment, and co-occurring internalizing symptoms. Future directions and implications for longitudinal research, measurement development, and clinical treatments are discussed.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Toward improved understanding and treatment of self-injurious behaviors in autistic individuals with profound intellectual disability
- Creators
- Emily F. Ferguson (Corresponding Author) - Stanford UniversityKaylin M. Russell - University of California, Santa BarbaraSarely J. Licona - University of California, Santa BarbaraRu Ying Cai - La Trobe UniversityThomas W. Frazier - Cleveland ClinicGiacomo Vivanti - Drexel University, Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology)Grace W. Gengoux - Stanford UniversityAntonio Y. Hardan - Stanford UniversityMirko Uljarevic - Stanford University
- Publication Details
- Autism research, v 18(2), pp 261-272
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- SIB
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001379607500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85212292017
- Other Identifier
- 991022005371904721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Psychology, Developmental