title: Risk factors associated with self-injurious behaviors in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: While self-injurious behaviors (SIB) can cause significant morbidity for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), little is known about its associated risk factors. We assessed 7 factors that may influence self-injury in a large cohort of children with ASD: (a) atypical sensory processing; (b) impaired cognitive ability; (c) abnormal functional communication; (d) abnormal social functioning; (e) age; (f) the need for sameness; (g) rituals and compulsions. Half (52.3%, n = 126) of the children (n = 241, aged 2-19 years) demonstrated SIB. Abnormal sensory processing was the strongest single predictor of self-injury followed by sameness, impaired cognitive ability and social functioning. Since atypical sensory processing and sameness have a greater relative impact on SIB, treatment approaches that focus on these factors may be beneficial in reducing self-harm in children with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. emma.duerden@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Emma G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Duerden
authors.forename: Hannah K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Oatley
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mak-Fan
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Margot J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szatmari
authors.forename: S Wendy
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult