Development and Validation of the Suicidal Behaviours Questionnaire - Autism Spectrum Conditions and the Autistic Depression Assessment Tool - Adult, 2018-2019

Autistic people and those with high autistic traits (but not diagnosed) are at high risk of experiencing depression and suicidality. Yet, there are no depression or suicidality assessment tools developed or validated with or for these groups. Two widely used and validated mental health assessment tools originally developed for the general population (The Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 item (PHQ-9) and the Suicidal Behaviours Questionnaire - Revised (SBQ-R)), were adapted using feedback from autistic adults, to create the Suicidal Behaviours Questionnaire - Autism Spectrum Conditions (SBQ-ASC), and the Autistic Depression Assessment Tool - Adult (ADAT-A). Data from the two anonymous online surveys developing and validating these adapted tools are included in this data collection. Delphi Survey 1 aimed to gather feedback on the original, and penultimate versions of the adapted mental health assessment tools, prior to finalising and testing the measurement properties of the original and adapted tools. Data collection through an anonymous online Qualtrics survey took place between 31st August 2018 - 31st October 2018. A community sample of autistic, possibly autistic (awaiting assessment - not yet diagnosed) and non-autistic adults were invited to rate the clarity, importance, and provide qualitative feedback for each item on the original PHQ-9 and SBQ-R, and penultimate version of the adapted versions of these tools (ADAT-A and SBQ-ASC). Validation survey 2 aimed to establish whether: a) the final adaptations addressed all the issues identified in the Delphi survey; b) test the measurement properties of the finalised adapted tools. Data collection through an anonymous online Qualtrics survey took place between 15th July 2019 - 30th August 2019. A community sample of autistic, possibly autistic (self-identified but not diagnosed), and non-autistic adults were invited to complete the original (PHQ-9 and SBQ-R) and updated versions of the adapted versions of these tools (ADAT-A and SBQ-ASC), and provide qualitative feedback on each tool (to ensure that all issues identified in the Delphi survey had been addressed). Participants also completed other measures to help test convergent and divergent validity of the adapted tools (self-report measures of autistic traits (AQ), camouflaging autistic traits (CAT-Q), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (ASA-A), thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness (INQ-15)). Please note, that validation survey 2 included the finalised SBQ-ASC which has now been published and made available. However, results from validation survey 2 showed that the ADAT-A needed further refinement to wording and response options. Therefore, the validation survey 2 data for the ADAT-A is not for the finalised version of this measure.