Prevalence of suicide attempt, suicide ideation and self-harm at diagnosis in adolescents with eating disorders


AKGÜL S., PEHLİVANTÜRK KIZILKAN M., YILDIRIM A., DERMAN O.

International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/13651501.2024.2337796
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
  • Keywords: adolescent, Eating disorder, self-harm, suicide attempt, suicide ideation
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Data concerning the suicide prevalence of eating disorder (ED) subtypes and predictive factors are lacking in youth. This study aimed to examine suicide attempts (SA), suicide ideation (SI) and self-harm (SH) upon diagnosis in adolescents with EDs. Methods: The prevalence of SA, SI and SH in ED subtypes was evaluated by retrospectively assessing the Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicidal ideation and Safety (HEEADSSS) instrument of adolescents diagnosed with an ED. Clinical predictors of SI in anorexia nervosa (AN) and atypical AN (AAN) were assessed. Results: Among all participants (398), 41 (10.3%) reported SA, 126 (31.7%) SI and 60 (15.1%) SH. While SA did not differ statistically between ED subgroups (p = .123), they were two times more prevalent in the bulimia nervosa (BN) group (17.5%) than in the AN group (8.5%). In the BN group, SI was 2.3 times more prevalent than in the AN group (p = .001). The AN and ARFID groups exhibited substantially less SH (p = .036). Having a higher body mass index (BMI) was the only significant predictor of SI. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that adolescents with EDs are at an increased risk for suicidality, highlighting the need for close screening, particularly in those with BN, AN-BP and AN with a higher BMI.Key points Adolescents with eating disorders have higher rates of suicidality than the general population. Bulimia nervosa had the highest risk for a suicide attempt, suicide ideation and self-harm at diagnosis. A higher body mass index (BMI) percentage was associated with an increased risk of suicidality in the anorexia nervosa group.