DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the relationship between depression and suicidal behavior in adolescents, highlighting the impacts on emotional balance and the importance of this issue, which has been growing in the social context. Methods: An integrative review was conducted according to guidelines, ensuring a systematic and transparent methodological process for searching the PubMed Central, Wiley Online Library, and Psychiatry Online databases. The Health Sciences Descriptors in English, "Depression," "Suicide," "Autism Spectrum Disorder," and "Adolescents," associated with Boolean operators, were used. The screening of studies followed three stages: removal of duplicates, analysis of titles and abstracts, and full reading of the articles. Of the studies analyzed, 17 articles published between 2016 and 2026 that met the inclusion criteria were included. Results: The analyzed studies show a consistent association between depressive symptoms and a higher risk of suicidal ideation and behavior in adolescents with ASD. Depression stands out as a central factor in this vulnerability, embedded in a clinical context that is not unique, but rather complex and variable, with greater susceptibility during adolescence. Contributions and Limitations; Depression plays a relevant role in understanding suicidal behavior in young people with ASD, which corroborates the need for early identification and continuous monitoring.