Evaluation of the Frequency of Suicidal Thoughts and Attempts and Related Factors in Female Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

Objective: Although anorexia nervosa (AN) has been associated with increased suicidal attempts, clinical variables that that influence this relationship still remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to examine the frequency of suicide attempts in females with AN, and the general psychopathology and associated clinical variables in patients with anorexia nervosa who do and do not attempt suicide.Methods: In this study, archive files and reports of 43 females with AN admitted to the department of child and adolescent psychiatry between 2015 and 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Participants' socio-demographic variables (age, peer relationships, psychiatric comorbidity, abuse history, history of suicidal thought and/or plan, family history of AN, etc.) and clinical (subtypes of AN, clinical features, response to treatment, the presence of suicidal ideation/attempts, etc.) characteristics were investigated. Also, the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used.Results: Our results revealed that 18.8% of patients with restricting AN, 81.3% of patients with purging or binging/purging AN, and 37.2% of the entire sample had at least one suicidal attempt, and 39.5% of the patients engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury behaviors. Further, binge-eating/purging AN type, more severe forms of AN, treatment resistance and poor insight or lack of insight, the presence of physical and emotional abuse, domestic violence, and the existence of psychiatric comorbidity markedly elevated the risk of suicide.Conclusion: The present study shows that patients with AN should be investigated not only for problems with eating and weight but also for possible non-suicidal self-harm behaviors, suicidal attempts.