Suicidal ideation and self-injurious behavior in adolescents with eating disorders

Authors

  • Olalla Varela-Besteiro Unidad de TCA, Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona; Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova-Gestió de Serveis Sanitaris, Lleida
  • Eduardo Serrano-Troncoso Unitat de TCA. Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona
  • Virginia Rodríguez-Vicente Unitat de TCA. Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona
  • Marta Curet-Santisteban Unitat de TCA. Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona
  • Gemma Conangla-Roselló Unitat de TCA. Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona
  • Raquel Cecilia-Costa Unitat de TCA. Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona
  • Marta Carulla-Roig Unitat de TCA. Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona
  • Josep L. Matalí-Costa Unitat de TCA. Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona
  • Montserrat Dolz-Abadia Unitat de TCA. Servei de Psiquiatria i Psicologia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona

Keywords:

Self-injurious behavior, Suicidal ideation, Eating disorder, Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction. The presence of suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behaviors in patients with eating disorders (ED) is well-known; however, this association is currently not defined empirically. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and self-harm in adolescents with eating disorders. A second objective is to study the association between self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation, severity of eating disorder symptoms and symptoms of depression and anxiety, motivation to change and perfectionism.

Methodology. We evaluated 109 patients (mean age, 14.74 years (SD: 1.53); 87.2% female) using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS) and the Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (ANSOCQ).

Results. Forty-seven patients (43.1%) had suicidal ideation and 34 (31.2%), self-injurious behavior. The presence of suicidal ideation did not discriminate between patients with or without self-injurious behavior. Patients who self-harm had significantly higher scores on all scales of the EDI-2, except for “maturity fears”, in the total scores of BDI-II, STAI and CAPS. An association between selfinjurious behavior and motivation to change was found.

Conclusions. A significant percentage of adolescents with eating disorders present suicidal ideation and selfinjurious behavior, making the psychopathological profile of these patients more severe. The presence of suicidal ideation in adolescents with eating disorders does not necessarily imply that they have self-injurious behavior; rather, such behavior could be a result of the need to regulate intense negative emotions.

Published

2017-07-01

How to Cite

Varela-Besteiro, Olalla, et al. “Suicidal Ideation and Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents With Eating Disorders”. Actas Españolas De Psiquiatría, vol. 45, no. 4, July 2017, pp. 157-66, https://actaspsiquiatria.es/index.php/actas/article/view/294.

Issue

Section

Original