Suicide attempts and mortality in eating disorders: a follow-up study of eating disorder patients

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of hospital-treated suicide attempts in a large clinical population of eating disorder patients. Method Follow-up study of adults ( N = 2462, 95% women, age 18–62 years) admitted to the Eating Disorder Clinic of Helsinki Universit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:General hospital psychiatry 2014-05, Vol.36 (3), p.355-357
Main Authors: Suokas, Jaana T., M.D., Ph.D, Suvisaari, Jaana M., M.D., Ph.D, Grainger, Marjut, Raevuori, Anu, M.D., Ph.D, Gissler, Mika, Ph.D, Haukka, Jari, Ph.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Anorexia Nervosa - epidemiology
Anorexia Nervosa - mortality
Biological and medical sciences
Bulimia Nervosa - epidemiology
Bulimia Nervosa - mortality
Eating disorder
Feeding and Eating Disorders - epidemiology
Feeding and Eating Disorders - mortality
Female
Finland - epidemiology
Follow-up
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mortality
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Suicide
Suicide attempt
Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of hospital-treated suicide attempts in a large clinical population of eating disorder patients. Method Follow-up study of adults ( N = 2462, 95% women, age 18–62 years) admitted to the Eating Disorder Clinic of Helsinki University Central Hospital in the period 1995–2010. For each patient, four controls were selected and matched for age, sex and place of residence. The end point events were modeled using Cox’s proportional hazard model, taking matching into account. Results We identified 156 patients with eating disorder (6.3%) and 139 controls (1.4%) who had required hospital treatment for attempted suicide. Of them, 66 (42.3%) and 37 (26.6%) had more than one attempt. The rate ratio (RR) for suicide attempt in patients with eating disorder was 4.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41–15.74]. In anorexia nervosa, RR was 8.01 (95% CI 5.40–11.87), and in bulimia nervosa, it was 5.08 (95% CI 3.46–7.42). In eating disorder patients with a history of suicide attempt, the risk of death from any cause was 12.8%, suicide being the main cause in 45% of the deaths. Conclusion Suicide attempts and repeated attempts are common among patients with eating disorders. Suicidal ideation should be routinely assessed from patients with eating disorders.
ISSN:0163-8343
1873-7714
DOI:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.01.002