Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership

Julia M.A. Sinclair; Betul Aslan; Roberta Agabio; Amith Anilkumar; Mark Brosnan; Ed Day; Nicki A. Dowling; Chelsey Flood; Jon E. Grant; Robyn Halliday; Björn Hofvander; Leesa Howes; Rachel Moseley; Bronwyn Myers; Vincent O'Connor; Gabriel Shaya; Shane Thomas; Janine Robinson; Samuel R. Chamberlain

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152393

Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership

Julia M.A. Sinclair^*, Betul Aslan, Roberta Agabio, Amith Anilkumar, Mark Brosnan, Ed Day, Nicki A. Dowling, Chelsey Flood, Jon E. Grant, Robyn Halliday, Björn Hofvander, Leesa Howes, Rachel Moseley, Bronwyn Myers, Vincent O'Connor, Gabriel Shaya, Shane Thomas, Janine Robinson, Samuel R. Chamberlain^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: Autistic people are more likely to report problematic alcohol and other substance use when compared to the general population. Evidence suggests that up to one in three autistic adults may have an alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), although the evidence base for behavioural addictions is less clear. Autistic people may use substances or engage in potentially addictive behaviours as a means of coping with social anxiety, challenging life problems, or camouflaging in social contexts. Despite the prevalence and detrimental effects of AUD, SUD and behavioural addictions in community samples, literature focusing on the intersection between autism and these conditions is scarce, hindering health policy, research, and clinical practice.

Methods: We aimed to identify the top 10 priorities to build the evidence for research, policy, and clinical practice at this intersection. A priority-setting partnership was used to address this aim, comprising an international steering committee and stakeholders from various backgrounds, including people with declared lived experience of autism and/or addiction. First, an online survey was used to identify what people considered key questions about Substance use, alcohol use, or behavioural addictions in autistic people (SABA-A). These initial questions were reviewed and amended by stakeholders, and then classified and refined to form the final list of top priorities via an online consensus process.

Outcomes: The top ten priorities were identified: three research, three policy, and four practice questions. Future research suggestions are discussed.

Original language	English
Article number	152393
Number of pages	7
Journal	Comprehensive Psychiatry
Volume	124
Early online date	15 May 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152393
Publication status	Published - Jul 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Prof. Chamberlain receives a stipend from Elsevier for editorial work. Prof. Grant has received research grants from Otsuka and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. He receives yearly compensation from Springer Publishing for acting as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies and has received royalties from Oxford University Press, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Norton Press, and McGraw Hill.

Prof. Chamberlain's involvement in this research was funded by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Fellowship (110,049/Z/15/Z & 110,049/Z/15/A). For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright license to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.

This Priority Setting Partnership was funded by a grant from the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA). The SSA did not have any involvement in the study design, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the final report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023

Keywords

Addiction
Autism
Gambling
Problematic alcohol use
Substance use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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SinclairJ2023IdentifyingFinal published version, 1.1 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Cite this

Sinclair, J. M. A., Aslan, B., Agabio, R., Anilkumar, A., Brosnan, M., Day, E., Dowling, N. A., Flood, C., Grant, J. E., Halliday, R., Hofvander, B., Howes, L., Moseley, R., Myers, B., O'Connor, V., Shaya, G., Thomas, S., Robinson, J., & Chamberlain, S. R. (2023). Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 124, Article 152393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152393

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title = "Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership",

abstract = "Background: Autistic people are more likely to report problematic alcohol and other substance use when compared to the general population. Evidence suggests that up to one in three autistic adults may have an alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), although the evidence base for behavioural addictions is less clear. Autistic people may use substances or engage in potentially addictive behaviours as a means of coping with social anxiety, challenging life problems, or camouflaging in social contexts. Despite the prevalence and detrimental effects of AUD, SUD and behavioural addictions in community samples, literature focusing on the intersection between autism and these conditions is scarce, hindering health policy, research, and clinical practice. Methods: We aimed to identify the top 10 priorities to build the evidence for research, policy, and clinical practice at this intersection. A priority-setting partnership was used to address this aim, comprising an international steering committee and stakeholders from various backgrounds, including people with declared lived experience of autism and/or addiction. First, an online survey was used to identify what people considered key questions about Substance use, alcohol use, or behavioural addictions in autistic people (SABA-A). These initial questions were reviewed and amended by stakeholders, and then classified and refined to form the final list of top priorities via an online consensus process. Outcomes: The top ten priorities were identified: three research, three policy, and four practice questions. Future research suggestions are discussed.",

keywords = "Addiction, Autism, Gambling, Problematic alcohol use, Substance use",

author = "Sinclair, {Julia M.A.} and Betul Aslan and Roberta Agabio and Amith Anilkumar and Mark Brosnan and Ed Day and Dowling, {Nicki A.} and Chelsey Flood and Grant, {Jon E.} and Robyn Halliday and Bj{\"o}rn Hofvander and Leesa Howes and Rachel Moseley and Bronwyn Myers and Vincent O'Connor and Gabriel Shaya and Shane Thomas and Janine Robinson and Chamberlain, {Samuel R.}",

note = "Funding Information: Prof. Chamberlain receives a stipend from Elsevier for editorial work. Prof. Grant has received research grants from Otsuka and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. He receives yearly compensation from Springer Publishing for acting as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies and has received royalties from Oxford University Press, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Norton Press, and McGraw Hill. Prof. Chamberlain's involvement in this research was funded by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Fellowship (110,049/Z/15/Z & 110,049/Z/15/A). For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright license to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. This Priority Setting Partnership was funded by a grant from the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA). The SSA did not have any involvement in the study design, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the final report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023",

year = "2023",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152393",

language = "English",

volume = "124",

journal = "Comprehensive Psychiatry",

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Sinclair, JMA, Aslan, B, Agabio, R, Anilkumar, A, Brosnan, M, Day, E, Dowling, NA, Flood, C, Grant, JE, Halliday, R, Hofvander, B, Howes, L, Moseley, R, Myers, B, O'Connor, V, Shaya, G, Thomas, S, Robinson, J & Chamberlain, SR 2023, 'Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership', Comprehensive Psychiatry, vol. 124, 152393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152393

Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership. / Sinclair, Julia M.A.; Aslan, Betul; Agabio, Roberta et al.
In: Comprehensive Psychiatry, Vol. 124, 152393, 07.2023.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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AU - Sinclair, Julia M.A.

AU - Aslan, Betul

AU - Agabio, Roberta

AU - Anilkumar, Amith

AU - Brosnan, Mark

AU - Day, Ed

AU - Dowling, Nicki A.

AU - Flood, Chelsey

AU - Grant, Jon E.

AU - Halliday, Robyn

AU - Hofvander, Björn

AU - Howes, Leesa

AU - Moseley, Rachel

AU - Myers, Bronwyn

AU - O'Connor, Vincent

AU - Shaya, Gabriel

AU - Thomas, Shane

AU - Robinson, Janine

AU - Chamberlain, Samuel R.

N1 - Funding Information: Prof. Chamberlain receives a stipend from Elsevier for editorial work. Prof. Grant has received research grants from Otsuka and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. He receives yearly compensation from Springer Publishing for acting as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies and has received royalties from Oxford University Press, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Norton Press, and McGraw Hill. Prof. Chamberlain's involvement in this research was funded by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Fellowship (110,049/Z/15/Z & 110,049/Z/15/A). For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright license to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. This Priority Setting Partnership was funded by a grant from the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA). The SSA did not have any involvement in the study design, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the final report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. Publisher Copyright: © 2023

PY - 2023/7

Y1 - 2023/7

N2 - Background: Autistic people are more likely to report problematic alcohol and other substance use when compared to the general population. Evidence suggests that up to one in three autistic adults may have an alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), although the evidence base for behavioural addictions is less clear. Autistic people may use substances or engage in potentially addictive behaviours as a means of coping with social anxiety, challenging life problems, or camouflaging in social contexts. Despite the prevalence and detrimental effects of AUD, SUD and behavioural addictions in community samples, literature focusing on the intersection between autism and these conditions is scarce, hindering health policy, research, and clinical practice. Methods: We aimed to identify the top 10 priorities to build the evidence for research, policy, and clinical practice at this intersection. A priority-setting partnership was used to address this aim, comprising an international steering committee and stakeholders from various backgrounds, including people with declared lived experience of autism and/or addiction. First, an online survey was used to identify what people considered key questions about Substance use, alcohol use, or behavioural addictions in autistic people (SABA-A). These initial questions were reviewed and amended by stakeholders, and then classified and refined to form the final list of top priorities via an online consensus process. Outcomes: The top ten priorities were identified: three research, three policy, and four practice questions. Future research suggestions are discussed.

AB - Background: Autistic people are more likely to report problematic alcohol and other substance use when compared to the general population. Evidence suggests that up to one in three autistic adults may have an alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), although the evidence base for behavioural addictions is less clear. Autistic people may use substances or engage in potentially addictive behaviours as a means of coping with social anxiety, challenging life problems, or camouflaging in social contexts. Despite the prevalence and detrimental effects of AUD, SUD and behavioural addictions in community samples, literature focusing on the intersection between autism and these conditions is scarce, hindering health policy, research, and clinical practice. Methods: We aimed to identify the top 10 priorities to build the evidence for research, policy, and clinical practice at this intersection. A priority-setting partnership was used to address this aim, comprising an international steering committee and stakeholders from various backgrounds, including people with declared lived experience of autism and/or addiction. First, an online survey was used to identify what people considered key questions about Substance use, alcohol use, or behavioural addictions in autistic people (SABA-A). These initial questions were reviewed and amended by stakeholders, and then classified and refined to form the final list of top priorities via an online consensus process. Outcomes: The top ten priorities were identified: three research, three policy, and four practice questions. Future research suggestions are discussed.

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KW - Substance use

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Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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