A study of the use of safety plans to reduce self-harm and suicide for autistic adults

Conditions

Intentional self-harm, autism spectrum disorder Mental and Behavioural Disorders Intentional self-harm, autism spectrum disorder, ASD

Goodwin J, Gordon I, O'Keeffe S, Carling S, Berresford A, Bhattarai N, Heslop P, Nielsen E, O'Connor RC, Ogundimu E, Pelton M, Ramsay SE, Rodgers J, Townsend E, Vale L, Wilson C, Cassidy S.

2025-05-284 citations

10.1089/aut.2023.0124

Health economic evaluation of Autism Adapted Safety Plans: findings on feasibility of tools from a pilot randomised controlled trial

Nawaraj Bhattarai, Jane Goodwin, Mirabel Pelton, Isabel Gordon, Jacqui Rodgers et al. (14 authors)

BMC Health Services Research2025-03-311 citations

10.1186/s12913-025-12642-8

Feasibility and acceptability of autism adapted safety plans: an external pilot randomised controlled trial.

Rodgers J, Cassidy S, Pelton M, Goodwin J, Wagnild J, Bhattarai N, Gordon I, Wilson C, Heslop P, Ogundimu E, O'Connor RC, Ramsay SE, Townsend E, Vale L.

2024-06-019 citations

10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102662

Adapted suicide safety plans to address self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide behaviours in autistic adults: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Rodgers J, Goodwin J, Nielsen E, Bhattarai N, Heslop P, Kharatikoopaei E, O'Connor RC, Ogundimu E, Ramsay SE, Steele K, Townsend E, Vale L, Walton E, Wilson C, Cassidy S.

2023-02-286 citations

10.1186/s40814-023-01264-8

Interventions

The intervention will be Autism Suicide Safety Plans (SPs), adapted in partnership with autistic people and those who support them, compared to usual care. SPs consist of a prioritized list of hierarc

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Adults with a clinical diagnosis of ASD 2. Accessing services via charities or third sector autism or third sector mental health services 3. A self-reported history of self-harm, suicidal thoughts or behaviours within the last 6 months 4. Sufficient spoken English to take part in assessments 5. Aged =18 years

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Insufficient English language skills or literacy to complete the SP and outcome measures (in a future definitive trial we will aim to develop versions of the materials in a range of languages) 2. Current psychotic symptoms

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Self-harm without intent to die will be assessed using a semi-structured interview; the Self Injurious Thoughts and Behaviours Interview (SITBI), at baseline, 1 and 6 months	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Psychiatric status of participants, including suicidality, will be assessed with a semi-structured interview; the Mini International NeuroPsychiatric Interview at baseline, 1 and 6 months 2. Assessment of the presence of adverse/difficult life experiences will be assessed by questionnaire completion using the Vulnerability Experience Quotient at baseline, 1 and 6 months 3. Demographic characteristics including socio-economic status, employment, housing, access to support, physical health, education, major life events will be captured using a questionnaire at baseline and 6 months 4. Health-related quality of life in relation to mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression measured using the EQ-5D-5L at baseline and 6 months 5. Health state utilities for use as part of a cost-benefit or cost-utility analysis will be assessed using a Health Economics Preference Elicitation tool developed for the study at baseline and 6 months 6. Information relating to participants' use of NHS, local authority and third sector services over the previous 6 months, captured using a Treatment as Usual/Usual Care Questionnaire designed specifically for the study at baseline and 6 months 7. An economic benefit assessment of the safety plan intervention will be assessed using an economic benefit assessment questionnaire at 6 months 8. How usable autistic adults find the safety plans will be captured using the questionnaire System Usability Scale (SUS) at 6 months 9. Participant satisfaction with the safety plans will be recorded using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) at 6 months 10. Interviews with the autistic adults who have participated to gain feedback on their views of the research methods, outcome measures and the safety plans, at 6 months 11. Interviews with support staff who have participated in the study to gain feedback on the views of the research methods, outcome measures, and the safety plans, at 6 months 12. The followin	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Psychiatric status of participants, including suicidality, will be assessed with a semi-structured interview; the Mini International NeuroPsychiatric Interview at baseline, 1 and 6 months 2. Assessment of the presence of adverse/difficult life experiences will be assessed by questionnaire completion using the Vulnerability Experience Quotient at baseline, 1 and 6 months 3. Demographic characteristics including socio-economic status, employment, housing, access to support, physical health, education, major life events will be captured using a questionnaire at baseline and 6 months 4. Health-related quality of life in relation to mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression measured using the EQ-5D-5L at baseline and 6 months 5. Health state utilities for use as part of a cost-benefit or cost-utility analysis will be assessed using a Health Economics Preference Elicitation tool developed for the study at baseline and 6 months 6. Information relating to participants' use of NHS, local authority and third sector services over the previous 6 months, captured using a Treatment as Usual/Usual Care Questionnaire designed specifically for the study at baseline and 6 months 7. An economic benefit assessment of the safety plan intervention will be assessed using an economic benefit assessment questionnaire at 6 months 8. How usable autistic adults find the safety plans will be captured using the questionnaire System Usability Scale (SUS) at 6 months 9. Participant satisfaction with the safety plans will be recorded using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) at 6 months 10. Interviews with the autistic adults who have participated to gain feedback on their views of the research methods, outcome measures and the safety plans, at 6 months 11. Interviews with support staff who have participated in the study to gain feedback on the views of the research methods, outcome measures, and the safety plans, at 6 months 12. The followin

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Countries

England, United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed