Prevalence and Correlates of Eating Disorder Symptoms in a Community Sample with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Abstract

This study aimed to examine (1) the presentation of binge eating and compensatory weight-control behaviors in a community sample of individuals who engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), (2) the relationship of NSSI features and ED symptoms, and (3) the relationship of psychopathology with ED symptoms. Participants with histories of NSSI (n = 118) were recruited from online self-injury forums and completed measures of ED, NSSI, general psychiatric symptoms and borderline personality (BP) symptoms through online questionnaires. Two thirds of the participants (66.1 %) engaged in compensatory weight-control behaviors at least once per week within the past 3 months, 57.6 % engaged in weekly fasting, and 57.6 % engaged in weekly binge eating. Greater versatility and medical severity of NSSI were positively associated with ED symptoms. Furthermore, BP symptoms were positively associated with increased ED symptoms, even after controlling for general psychiatric symptoms. These findings highlight NSSI versatility, NSSI medical severity and BP symptoms as important correlates of increased ED symptoms in individuals who engage in NSSI, and highlight a need to integrate assessment for ED among individuals who engage in NSSI.