Personality trait risk factors for attempted suicide among young women with eating disorders

Non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal thoughts and behaviors in individuals with an eating disorder relative to healthy and psychiatric controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Eating disorders (ED) may be associated with an increased prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) relative to healthy (HC) and psychiatric (PC) controls. However, precise estimates of differences in prevalence between individuals with EDs and controls are unclear. We compared the prevalence of NSSI, suicidal ideation (SI), suicide attempts (SA), and deaths by suicide in controls and individuals with EDs.

METHOD

We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL for peer-reviewed publications reporting the prevalence of NSSI and/or STBs in EDs and HC or PC group (PROSPERO: CRD42021286754). A series of random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) for NSSI, SI, SA, and death by suicide in EDs.

RESULTS

Across 32 studies, individuals with an ED had a significantly increased prevalence of NSSI (HC: OR = 6.85 [95% CI: 3.60, 13.04]; PC: OR = 2.74 [95% CI: 1.49, 5.06]), SI (HC: OR = 3.63 [95% CI: 2.43, 5.41]; PC: OR = 3.10 [95% CI: 2.01, 4.78]), and SA (HC: OR = 5.16 [95% CI: 4.27, 6.24]; PC: OR = 1.37 [95% CI: 0.37, 4.99]) relative to HC and PC groups. A 2.93-times increased odd of death by suicide did not achieve statistical significance. There was a high-level of heterogeneity between studies.

DISCUSSION

Our findings indicate that ED populations have an increased prevalence of NSSI, SI, and SA but not death by suicide compared to controls and emphasize the need for effective clinical strategies to address these behaviors in ED populations.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

This review provides evidence for an increased prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in populations with eating disorders compared to controls. Our findings emphasize the need for effective clinical strategies to address these behaviors in patients with eating disorders.

Antisocial traits and neuroticism as predictors of suicidal behaviour in borderline personality disorder: A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

The spectrum of suicidal behaviour (SB) is nuclear in the clinic and management of borderline personality disorder (BPD). The pathological personality traits of BPD intervene as risk factors for SB in confluence with other clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with BPD. The objective of this work is to evaluate the specific personality traits of BPD that are related to SB.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, observational and retrospective study was carried out on a sample of 134 patients diagnosed with BPD according to DSM-5 criteria. The Millon-II, Zuckerman-Kuhlman and Barrat questionnaires were used to assess different personality parameters. Variable comparisons were made using the χ² test and the Student's t-test. The association between variables was analysed using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were observed between SB and related factors and the neuroticism-anxiety dimension in the Zuckerman-Kuhlman test. It is also significantly related to the phobic and antisocial subscale of the Millon-II. Impulsivity measured with the Zuckerman-Kuhlman and Barrat tests does not appear to be related to SB.

CONCLUSIONS

The results presented raise the role of phobic, antisocial and neuroticism traits as possible personality traits of BPD related to SB, suggesting an even greater importance within the relationship between BPD and SB than that of impulsivity. Looking to the future, longitudinal studies would increase the scientific evidence for the specified findings.

Clarifying the association of eating disorder features to suicide ideation and attempts

OBJECTIVE

We examine the relationships of eight eating disorder (ED) features to histories of suicide ideation and suicide attempts.

METHOD

Participants were 387 adults (62% female, mean age = 36 years) recruited via an online platform, and oversampled for the presence of ED features, who completed standardized self-report measures of study variables.

RESULTS

Different ED features predicted suicide ideation versus attempts. Specifically, Restrictive Eating (d = 0.44), Purging (d = 0.30), and Body Dissatisfaction (d = 0.27) were higher among ideators compared to nonsuicidal participants. In contrast, Muscle Building (d = 0.31), Excessive Exercise (d = 0.26), Cognitive Restraint (d = 0.23), and Restrictive Eating (d = 0.20) were higher among attempters compared to ideators-however, we note that the p-values for these effects range between 0.02 and 0.04 and it is unclear if they would replicate. Independent replication is important.

CONCLUSION

Findings have implications for the conceptualization of suicide risk in individuals with EDs.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Improves Emotion Dysregulation Mainly in Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Emotion dysregulation is a transdiagnostic phenomenon in Eating Disorders (ED), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) (which was developed for reducing dysregulated emotions in personality disorders) has been employed in patients with ED. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether the effect of DBT was stronger on emotion dysregulation, general psychopathology, and Body Mass Index (BMI) in participants with ED, when compared to a control group (active therapy and waitlist). Eleven studies were identified in a systematic search in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Most studies included participants with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) (n = 8), some with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) (n = 3), and only one with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). The pooled effect of DBT indicated a greater improvement in Emotion Regulation (ER) (g = −0.69, p = 0.01), depressive symptoms (g = −0.33, p < 0.00001), ED psychopathology (MD = −0.90, p = 0.005), Objective Binge Episodes (OBE) (MD = −0.27, p = 0.003), and BMI (MD = −1.93, p = 0.01) compared to the control group. No improvement was detected in eating ER following DBT (p = 0.41). DBT demonstrated greater efficacy compared with the control group in improving emotion dysregulation, ED psychopathology, and BMI in ED. The limitations included the small number of studies and high variability.

Mental Pain in Eating Disorders: An Exploratory Controlled Study

Mental pain (MP) is a transdiagnostic feature characterized by depression, suicidal ideation, emotion dysregulation, and associated with worse levels of distress. The study explores the presence and the discriminating role of MP in EDs in detecting patients with higher depressive and ED-related symptoms. Seventy-one ED patients and 90 matched controls completed a Clinical Assessment Scale for MP (CASMP) and the Mental Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). ED patients also completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Clinical Interview for Depression (CID-20), and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40). ED patients exhibited significantly greater severity and higher number of cases of MP than controls. Moreover, MP resulted the most important cluster predictor followed by BDI-II, CID-20, and EAT-40 in discriminating between patients with different ED and depression severity in a two-step cluster analysis encompassing 87.3% (n = 62) of the total ED sample. Significant positive associations have been found between MP and bulimic symptoms, cognitive and somatic-affective depressive symptoms, suicidal tendencies, and anxiety-related symptoms. In particular, those presenting MP reported significantly higher levels of depressive and anxiety-related symptoms than those without. MP represents a clinical aspect that can help to detect more severe cases of EDs and to better understand the complex interplay between ED and mood symptomatology.

Antisocial Traits and Neuroticism as Predictors of Suicidal Behaviour in Borderline Personality Disorder: a Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION

The spectrum of suicidal behaviour (SB) is nuclear in the clinic and management of borderline personality disorder (BPD). The pathological personality traits of BPD intervene as risk factors for SB in confluence with other clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with BPD. The objective of this work is to evaluate the specific personality traits of BPD that are related to SB.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, observational and retrospective study was carried out on a sample of 134 patients diagnosed with BPD according to DSM-5 criteria. The Millon-II, Zuckerman-Kuhlman and Barrat questionnaires were used to assess different personality parameters. Variable comparisons were made using the χ2 test and the Student's t-test. The association between variables was analysed using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were observed between SB and related factors and the neuroticism-anxiety dimension in the Zuckerman-Kuhlman test. It is also significantly related to the phobic and antisocial subscale of the Millon-II. Impulsivity measured with the Zuckerman-Kuhlman and Barrat tests does not appear to be related to SB.

CONCLUSIONS

The results presented raise the role of phobic, antisocial and neuroticism traits as possible personality traits of BPD related to SB, suggesting an even greater importance within the relationship between BPD and SB than that of impulsivity. Looking to the future, longitudinal studies would increase the scientific evidence for the specified findings.

Suicide attempts in bulimia nervosa: Personality and psychopathological correlates

Background

Little evidence exists about suicidal acts in eating disorders and its relation with personality. We explored the prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts (SA) in women with bulimia nervosa (BN), and compared eating disorder symptoms, general psychopathology, impulsivity and personality between individuals who had and had not attempted suicide. We also determined the variables that better correlate with of SA.

Method

Five hundred sixty-six BN outpatients (417 BN purging, 47 BN non-purging and 102 subthreshold BN) participated in the study.

Results

Lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts was 26.9%. BN subtype was not associated with lifetime SA (p = 0.36). Suicide attempters exhibited higher rates on eating symptomatology, general psychopathology, impulsive behaviors, more frequent history of childhood obesity and parental alcohol abuse (p < 0.004). Suicide attempters exhibited higher scores on harm avoidance and lower on self-directedness, reward dependence and cooperativeness (p < 0.002). The most strongly correlated variables with SA were: lower education, minimum BMI, previous eating disorder treatment, low self-directedness, and familial history of alcohol abuse (p < 0.006).

Conclusion

Our results support the notion that internalizing personality traits combined with impulsivity may increase the probability of suicidal behaviors in these patients. Future research may increase our understanding of the role of suicidality to work towards rational prevention of suicidal attempts.

Predictors of Suicide Attempts in Individuals with Eating Disorders

OBJECTIVE

Although suicide is a major cause of mortality for individuals with eating disorders (EDs), researches about potential factors predicting suicide attempts in ED are insufficient. We sought to identify factors associated with suicide attempts in ED.

METHOD

A total of 899 patients with ED were assessed via structured interviews. To compare demographic and clinical characteristics of those who had attempted suicide with those who had not, we used chi-square tests and independent t tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Then, binary logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with a history of suicide attempt.

RESULTS

Among ED patients, 20.8% reported a history of suicide attempts. Among the whole sample, the diagnostic category was the most significant factor. History of self-mutilating behavior, hospitalization history, comorbid depression, and impulse regulation were also important factors associated with suicide attempt. Within the subgroup, comorbid anxiety disorder, depression, and BMI in anorexia nervosa and hospitalization history, history of self-mutilating behavior, comorbid depression, illness duration, and poor impulse regulation in bulimia nervosa were significant factors associated with suicide attempt.

CONCLUSIONS

Because modifying risk factors of suicide attempt is important for preventing completed suicide, clinicians should carefully evaluate and monitor the risk factors of suicide attempt.

Socio-demographic and psychological risk factors for suicidal behavior among individuals with anorexia and bulimia nervosa: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and is also elevated in bulimia nervosa (BN). We carried out a systematic review in which we analyzed the relationship between AN and/or BN and suicidality (i.e. suicidal ideation or attempted and/or death by suicide) and the major risk factors for suicidal behavior among AN and BN patients by synthesizing the qualitative data from relevant studies.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

According to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic search of the literature on PsycNET, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Search terms were "eating disorders" "OR" "anorexia" "OR" "bulimia" combined with the Boolean "AND" operator with "suicide."

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The initial search identified 8,590 records, of which 38 research reports met the predefined inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Eating disorders (EDs) were found to be associated with a marked increase in suicidal behaviors and ideation. ED type, impulsivity, and specific interpersonal features were associated with suicidal behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the importance of the combined role of socio-demographic and psychological factors to the co-occurrence of EDs and suicidal behavior. It is imperative that a thorough suicide assessment be conducted routinely for individuals with past and current EDs, and that clinicians be aware that this risk may be ongoing and occur throughout treatment, even after ED symptoms appear to be remitting.

LIMITATIONS

Study limitations include diagnostic definitions of and criteria for EDs, and the different terminology used by researchers to define suicide, including non-suicidal behaviors, which weakens the ability to draw conclusions regarding actual suicidal behaviors versus other self-harm behaviors.

Personality vulnerabilities in adolescent suicidality: The mediating role of psychological distress

The research literature consistently indicates that self-criticism is related to suicidality. Evidence for the role of dependency, however, is more controversial. This study examines the extent to which these personality vulnerabilities are mediated by psychological distress in the prediction of suicidality. As part of a study of adolescent psychopathology, a sample of 260 Portuguese adolescents (148 [56.9 %] female and 112 [43.1%] male), ranging in age from 15 to 18 years (M = 16.32, SD = 1.19) completed measures of personality, suicidal behavior, and current distress, in counterbalanced order. The measures were: self-criticism and dependency from the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire for Adolescents; two psychological distress scales, social withdrawal from the Youth Self Report and depression from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale; and a measure of suicidality from the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire Revised. Structural equation modeling indicated that self-criticism and dependency were both significantly associated with suicidality. Psychological distress, however, as measured by withdrawal and depression, fully mediated these relationships, but did not moderate them. The authors conclude that adolescents with higher levels of self-criticism and dependency are at greater risk for experiencing intense psychological distress-high levels of social withdrawal and depression-that account for their vulnerability to suicide risk.

Shame and Gender Differences in Paths to Youth Suicide: Parents' Perspective

Risk factors, suicidal behavior, and help-seeking patterns differ between young women and men. We constructed a generic conceptual model of the processes underlying youth suicide, grounded in 78 interviews with parents in 52 consecutive cases of suicide (19 women, 33 men) identified at forensic medical autopsy and compared by sex. We found different forms of shame hidden behind gender-specific masks, as well as gender differences in their paths to suicide. Several interacting factors formed negative feedback loops. Finding no way out, the young persons looked for an "emergency exit." Signs and preparations could be observed at different times but recognized only in retrospect. Typically, the young persons and their parents asked for professional help but did not receive the help they needed. We discuss parents' experiences from the theoretical perspective on gender identity and developmental breakdown. Giving voice to the parents' tacit knowledge can contribute to better prevention and treatment.

Testing Models Relating Rejection, Depression, Interpersonal Needs, and Psychache to Suicide Risk in Nonclinical Individuals

OBJECTIVES

Using structural equation modeling, we tested a primary model of suicide risk and 3 competing, alternative models based on 4 psychological variables deemed important in the literature (perception of parental rejection, depression, interpersonal needs comprising perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, and psychache), in a nonclinical sample of Portuguese adults.

METHOD

A convenience sample of 203 adults (100 men, 103 women; aged 18-65 years) participated in this study.

RESULTS

Analyses demonstrated that the proposed primary model had the best fit to the observed data. The differences in fit indexes for this model and one of the alternative models, however, were not substantial.

CONCLUSION

Perceived parental rejection related directly to suicide risk and indirectly via depression and interpersonal needs. Depression linked indirectly to suicide risk via interpersonal needs and psychache. Interpersonal needs related directly to suicide risk and indirectly via psychache, which related directly to suicide risk.

Suicidal ideation and distress in family members bereaved by suicide in Portugal

The present study assessed the impact of suicide and distress on suicidal ideation in a sample of 93 Portuguese family members bereaved by suicide. A control community sample of 102 adults also participated. After controlling for educational level, those bereaved by the suicide of a family member were found to have higher levels of suicidal ideation. Forty-two percent of family members had Suicide Ideation Questionnaire scores at or above the cutoff point. General distress, depression, anxiety, and hostility related to suicidal ideation, whereas time since suicide also interacted with general distress and depression in predicting suicidal ideation.

Attempted Suicide in Patients With Eating Disorders

Background: Suicide is a major cause of mortality for patients with eating disorders (ED), especially for patients with anorexia nervosa. Attempted suicide is also relatively common in patients with anorexia or bulimia nervosa. Aims: This study aimed at examining associations between attempted suicide and trait- and state-dependent characteristics in a large clinical population of ED patients. Method: The sample consisted of 1,436 in- and outpatients of the Centre for Eating Disorders of the Ghent University Hospital. Measures of ED symptoms, psychopathology, and personality traits were compared between ED patients with and ED patients without a history of attempted suicide. Results: A history of attempted suicide was found in 11.8% of the ED patients and lifetime suicidal ideation was reported by 43.3%. Multivariate analyses showed that a history of attempted suicide was associated with higher scores on depression, purging symptomatology, early-developed cognitive schemes (impaired autonomy and increased inhibition), and social insecurity. Conclusion: These findings support the increased risk of suicidal behavior in ED. The presence of particular personality traits, of cognitive schemes, and of purging and depressive symptoms should increase vigilance for suicidal behavior.

Self-image and suicide in a Swedish national eating disorders clinical register

OBJECTIVE

Using a prospective design, to examine the relation between self-image (assessed using the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior) and suicide attempts/completions in women with anorexia nervosa-restricting type (ANR), anorexia nervosa-binge/purge type (ANBP), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS); and to assess whether these self-image variables add unique predictive value to suicide when considering other baseline predictors.

METHOD

Women (N=2269) aged 12 to 45 (M=22.1) presenting to specialist eating disorders clinics in Sweden between 2005 and 2009 were identified through the Stepwise Eating Disorders Quality Register. Data on age, body mass index, eating disorder severity (Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire scores), psychiatric comorbidity, global assessment of functioning, and self-image were abstracted from Stepwise and included as baseline predictors or covariates. Suicide information (prior attempt and attempt/completion after Stepwise registration) was obtained from the National Patient Register and Cause of Death Register.

RESULTS

Prevalence of detected suicide attempts/completions over the study period was 9.2%. Negative self-image variables were associated with prior suicide attempts in ANR and EDNOS and later suicide attempts/completions in women with BN. In a stepwise Cox proportional hazards model, only low self-affirmation predicted time to suicide attempts/completions in women with BN when accounting for age and prior suicide attempt.

CONCLUSION

Assessing self-image might assist with identifying women with BN at elevated risk for suicide.

Recollections of parental rejection, self-criticism and depression in suicidality

The present study examines whether self-criticism and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between recollections of parental rejection and suicidality. A community sample of 200 Portuguese adults completed, in counterbalanced order, a socio-demographic questionnaire, the short form of the Inventory for Assessing Memories of Parental Rearing Behaviour (EMBU), the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and reports of any suicide intention and/or ideation and suicide attempts. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that recollections of parental rejection are significantly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidality. Recollections of parental rejection are indirectly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidality through self-criticism. The association between self-criticism and suicidality is mediated by depressive symptoms. In addition to a significant direct association between recollections of parental rejection and suicidality, the final model indicated that recollections of parental rejection are significantly associated with self-criticism. That same self-criticism is significantly associated with depressive symptoms which, in turn, are significantly associated with suicidality. Individuals with recollections of parental rejection are at greater risk for suicide ideation and behavior, possibly because such experiences predispose them to intense self-criticism which is a risk factor for depression associated with suicidal ideation and behavior.

Distress mediates the association between personality predispositions and suicidality: a preliminary study in a Portuguese community sample

The present study examined whether distress mediates the relationship between suicidality and the personality predispositions of Self-Criticism, Dependency/Neediness, and Efficacy. A community sample of Portuguese young adults (N = 105) completed, in a counterbalanced order, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and reports of any suicide attempts and/or ideation. Structural equation modeling indicated that Self-Criticism is significantly associated with suicidality, but Dependency and Efficacy are not. High levels of Self-Criticism and of Dependency and low levels of Efficacy are associated with distress. Distress mediates the association between Self-Criticism and suicidality; whereas Dependency and Efficacy are indirectly associated with suicidality through their associations with distress. Self-Critical and Dependent individuals are at greater risk for suicide because of their vulnerability to distressful events; whereas certain levels of Efficacy may decrease vulnerability to distress and suicide risk.

Characteristics of suicide attempts in anorexia and bulimia nervosa: a case-control study

Objective

Compared to other eating disorders, anorexia nervosa (AN) has the highest rates of completed suicide whereas suicide attempt rates are similar or lower than in bulimia nervosa (BN). Attempted suicide is a key predictor of suicide, thus this mismatch is intriguing. We sought to explore whether the clinical characteristics of suicidal acts differ between suicide attempters with AN, BN or without an eating disorders (ED).

Method

Case-control study in a cohort of suicide attempters (n = 1563). Forty-four patients with AN and 71 with BN were compared with 235 non-ED attempters matched for sex, age and education, using interview measures of suicidal intent and severity.

Results

AN patients were more likely to have made a serious attempt (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.4–7.9), with a higher expectation of dying (OR = 3.7,95% CI 1.1–13.5), and an increased risk of severity (OR = 3.4,95% CI 1.2–9.6). BN patients did not differ from the control group. Clinical markers of the severity of ED were associated with the seriousness of the attempt.

Conclusion

There are distinct features of suicide attempts in AN. This may explain the higher suicide rates in AN. Higher completed suicide rates in AN may be partially explained by AN patients' higher desire to die and their more severe and lethal attempts.

Suicide attempts in anorexia nervosa subtypes

OBJECTIVE

The risk for suicide attempts is elevated in anorexia nervosa (AN), yet we know little about the relation between suicide and personality in this group. We explored the prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts in women with AN and compared those who had and had not attempted suicide on eating disorder symptoms, general psychopathology, and personality both relative to a healthy control group and then across AN subtypes.

METHOD

One hundred four outpatients with restricting AN, 68 outpatients with purging AN, and 146 comparison individuals participated in the study.

RESULTS

The prevalence of suicide attempts differed significantly across the 3 groups (P = .003), with 0% in the controls, 8.65% in the restricting AN group, and 25.0% in the purging AN group. Depression measures were elevated in those with suicide attempts. Within the restricting AN group, those who attempted suicide scored significantly higher on Phobic Anxiety, measured by means of the Symptom Checklist-Revised, than those who did not (P = .001).

CONCLUSION

The presence of purging and depressive symptoms in individuals with AN should increase vigilance for suicidality; and among restrictors, greater anxiety may index greater suicide risk.

Clinical correlates of eating disorder comorbidity in women with bipolar disorder type I

OBJECTIVE

To report on the presence of current and lifetime eating disorders (ED) in a well-defined sample of 137 female individuals with bipolar disorder type I.

METHODS

Trained psychiatrists interviewed the patients, and the diagnoses of BD and comorbidities were confirmed using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Axis I Disorders. Clinical and demographic characteristics of both groups (group with ED vs. group without ED) were compared.

RESULTS

Female patients with ED had an earlier onset of BD and an increased number of mood episodes, predominantly depressive. Women in the ED group also had higher rates of comorbidity with substance use disorders and anxiety disorders and reported a history of suicide attempts more frequently than women without ED.

CONCLUSION

The presence of ED is a correlate of severity of BD type I, and interventions should be developed to minimize distress and suicide risk and to improve treatment outcome.

Personality and attempted suicide. Analysis of anger, aggression and impulsivity

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, mortality from suicide being approximately 2%. Attempted suicide appears to be a major risk factor for suicide completion. Anger, aggression and impulsivity are personality traits associated with suicide attempt. In this study we analysed a part of a previously reported sample in order to test anger, impulsivity and temperament/character scales as predictors of aggression and self-aggression in suicide attempters and to compare anger- and aggression-related traits between impulsive and premeditated suicide attempts as well as between violent and non-violent suicide methods. One-hundred-eleven consecutively admitted inpatients with a lifetime history of attempted suicide were assessed for anger (State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, STAXI), aggression (Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression, FAF) and temperament/character (Temperament and Character Inventory, TCI). Higher aggression scores, as measured by FAF, were predicted by being male, meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder and having higher angry temperament scores as assessed by STAXI; low cooperativeness was also associated with aggression but not after controlling for STAXI scales. TCI dimensions associated with self-aggression were high harm avoidance, high impulsivity and low self-directedness; state anger, inwardly directed anger and inhibition of aggression were also predictors of self-aggression. In conclusion, impulsivity and harm avoidance have emerged as temperament dimensions independently associated with self-aggressive tendencies in personality. Such interactions could explain the correlation between temperament and suicidality but further research is needed. Anger and self-directedness appear to have some effects on suicide attempt.

The validity and utility of subtyping bulimia nervosa

OBJECTIVE

To review the evidence for the validity and utility of subtyping bulimia nervosa (BN) into a purging (BN-P) and a nonpurging subtype (BN-NP), and of distinguishing BN-NP from binge eating disorder (BED), by comparing course, complications, and treatment.

METHOD

A literature search of psychiatry databases for studies published in peer-reviewed journals that used the DSM-definitions of BN and BED, and included both individuals with BN-NP and individuals with BN-P and/or BED.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies compared individuals with BN-NP (N = 671) to individuals with BN-P (N = 1795) and/or individuals with BED (N = 1921), two of which reported on course, 12 on comorbidity and none on treatment response-the indicators for validity and clinical utility. The differences found were mainly quantitative rather than qualitative, suggesting a gradual difference in severity from BN-P (most severe) through BN-NP to BED (least severe).

DISCUSSION

None of the comparisons provided convincing evidence for the validity or utility of the BN-NP diagnosis. Three options for the position of BN-NP in DSM-V were suggested: (1) maintaining the BN-NP subtype, (2) dropping nonpurging compensatory behavior as a criterion for BN, so that individuals currently designated as having BN-NP would be designated as having BED, and (3) including BN-NP in a broad BN category.

Abnormal eating attitudes in Mexican female students: a study of prevalence and sociodemographic-clinical associated factors

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal eating attitudes (AEA) in Mexican high school and university students in the city of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. By means of a transversal study with a weighted, random and multistage sampling process, we analyzed a representative sample of female students (N= 2006). The instrument was the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), validated in Mexican population and a questionnaire of sociodemographic data. The prevalence of AEA was 12.6% and its frequency was significantly higher in high school than in university students. AEA cases were uniformly distributed among public and private institutions and a highly significant relationship between substances consumption and AEA was observed. A logistic regression model for AEA was obtained. Therefore, a profile of highly AEA was built based on sociodemographic data and a solid instrument validated in Mexican population, which can be employed as a screening and secondary prevention tool to design public health programs.

Shyness, sociability, and eating problems in a non-clinical sample of female undergraduates

Previous empirical studies have shown that the personality trait of shyness, either alone or in combination with varying levels of sociability (i.e., a socially-conflicted profile--high shyness with high sociability) to be a reliable predictor of various psychopathologies, including substance abuse and mood disorders. Extending these findings to other forms of dysregulated behaviours, we examined multiple measures of eating problems in relation to self-reported shyness and sociability in a sample of 520 undergraduate females (M = 20.7 years). Analyses revealed a consistent significant main effect for shyness across all measures of disordered eating. These findings extend earlier work on shyness to another form of psychopathology (i.e., eating problems) not previously examined in a non-clinical sample.

Broad and narrow personality traits as markers of one-time and repeated suicide attempts: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Studying personality traits with the potential to differentiate between individuals engaging in suicide attempts of different degrees of severity could help us to understand the processes underlying the link of personality and nonfatal suicidal behaviours and to identify at-risk groups. One approach may be to examine whether narrow, i.e., lower-order personality traits may be more useful than their underlying, broad personality trait dimensions.

METHODS

We investigated qualitative and quantitative differences in broad and narrow personality traits between one-time and repeated suicide attempters in a longitudinal, population-based sample of young French Canadian adults using two multivariate regression models.

RESULTS

One broad (Compulsivity: OR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-3.5) and one narrow personality trait (anxiousness: OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.01-1.1) differentiated between individuals with histories of repeated and one-time suicide attempts. Affective instability [(OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.04-1.1)] and anxiousness [(OR = .92; 95% CI .88-.95)], on the other hand, differentiated between nonattempters and one-time suicide attempters.

CONCLUSION

Emotional and cognitive dysregulation and associated behavioural manifestations may be associated with suicide attempts of different severity. While findings associated with narrow traits may be easier to interpret and link to existing sociobiological theories, larger effect sizes associated with broad traits such as Compulsivity may be better suited to objectives with a more clinical focus.

MMPI–2 Profiles of Women With Eating Disorders in a Dutch Day Treatment Sample

In this study, we examined the MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) profiles of 324 Dutch patients with eating disorders at an eating disorder day treatment program. We studied the MMPI-2 profiles in 5 diagnostic eating disorder groups. All diagnostic subgroups showed high mean elevations of the T scores on the same 6 or 7 scales. Remarkable similarities existed between the mean profile configurations. The MMPI-2 distinguished especially in that patients with restricting anorexia nervosa scored lower on one Validity scale (F), two Clinical scales (1 and 2) and several Supplementary and Content scales of the MMPI-2 compared to the other groups. Only on the validity Scale L did they score higher. The MMPI-2 also distinguished patients with the bulimia nervosa purging type who scored higher on Scale 9 and different on several Content and Supplementary scales. We discuss results with regard to other studies of MMPI (Hathaway & McKinley, 1983) and MMPI-2 profiles of women with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Factors associated with suicidal behaviors in a large French sample of inpatients with eating disorders

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to identify factors associated with suicidal behaviors among patients with eating disorders.

METHOD

A large database including sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 1,009 consecutive patients hospitalized for an eating disorder in Paris, France, was examined. Data gathered upon admission to hospital were analyzed to identify factors associated with a history of suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation, among the whole sample as well as among each subtype of eating disorder.

RESULTS

Among the whole sample, the factor most strongly associated with suicide attempt or suicidal ideation was the diagnostic category, with the highest odds ratio for bulimia nervosa followed by anorexia nervosa of the binging/purging subtype. Among diagnostic subgroups, the strongest factors were drug use, alcohol use, and tobacco use.

CONCLUSION

Suicide risk should be monitored carefully among patients with eating disorders, paying particular attention to combinations of risk factors.

It doesn't happen here: eating disorders in an ethnically diverse sample of economically disadvantaged, urban college students

The bulk of eating disorder studies have focused on white, middle-upper class women, excluding ethnically and economically diverse women and men. Accordingly, our knowledge of prevalence rates and risk factors is reliant on this narrow literature. To expand upon the current literature, we examined eating disorders in ethnically diverse low-income, urban college students. We surveyed 884 incoming freshmen during an orientation class to assess the frequency of eating disorder diagnosis and the risk factors of child physical abuse and sexual abuse before and after age 13. We found 10% of our sample received an eating disorder diagnosis, 12.2% of the women and 7.3% of the men. The majority of these students were Latino/a or "other," with White women receiving the fewest diagnoses. For all women, both child physical abuse and both indices of sexual abuse contributed equally to the development of an eating disorder. For men only the sexual abuse indices contributed to an eating disorder diagnosis. These results indicate that ethnic minority populations do suffer from relatively high rates of self-reported eating disorders and that a history of trauma is a significant risk factor for eating disorders in these diverse populations of both women and men.

Switching to the bingeing/purging subtype of anorexia nervosa is frequently associated with suicidal attempts

OBJECTIVE

Anorexia nervosa has the highest suicide mortality ratio of psychiatric disorders, suicide being associated with many factors. We assessed the first lifetime occurrence of these factors taking into account their possible overlap.

METHOD

Three hundred and four in- and out-patients with anorexia nervosa (DSM-IV) were systematically recruited in three hospitals of Paris suburbs, between December 1999 and January 2003. Patients were assessed by a face-to-face interview (DIGS). Current eating disorder dimensions were measured, and patients interviewed by a trained clinician to assess minimal BMI and, retrospectively, the age at which anorexia nervosa, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders and switch to bingeing/purging type occurred for the first time, if applicable.

RESULTS

Major depressive disorder (p<0.001) and subtype switch from the restrictive to the bingeing/purging type (p<0.001) were the two factors significantly more frequently occurring before suicidal attempts, and remained involved when a multivariate analysis is performed, whether syndromic or dimensional measures are being used. Taking into account lifetime occurrence with a survival analysis, the switch to bingeing/purging type of anorexia appears as a major predictive factor, with a large increase of the frequency of suicidal attempts (OR=15) when compared to patients with neither major depressive disorder nor bingeing/purging type.

CONCLUSIONS

Bingeing/purging type of anorexia nervosa is largely associated with suicidal attempts, and may deserve specific attention. If confirmed on a prospectively designed study, these results would argue for early detection and/or more intensive and specific therapeutic intervention on this aspect of bingeing and purging behaviors.

Suicide and attempted suicide in eating disorders, obesity and weight-image concern

Suicide in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa is a major cause of death. Meta-analyses have shown that individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa commit suicide more often than their counterparts in the general population; also a few studies have suggested that suicide is the major cause of death among patients with anorexia nervosa, refuting the assumption that inanition generally threatens the life of these patients. Data concerning suicide in bulimia nervosa, on the other hand, are still scarce but suicide attempts are easily found among cohorts of patients with bulimia nervosa, which constitutes a risk factor for completed suicide. Suicidality in obesity and individuals with disturbed weight status has been reported. Both in the case of bulimia nervosa and obesity more long-term follow-up studies need to be completed before the risk of suicide for such disorders may be compared with that for anorexia nervosa.

Familial and sociopsychopathological risk factors for suicide attempt in bulimic and in depressed women: prospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to examine sociopsychopathological predictors of prospective observed suicide attempts in bulimic women purging type without comorbid major depression (BNG) at the time of study entry and in woman with major depression without comorbid eating disorder at the time of study entry (MDG).

METHODS

Data from 28 BNG (age 23.5 +/- 3.6) and 126 MDG women (age 33.4 +/- 5.1) who had attempted suicide during 12 months' monitoring were compared.

RESULTS

A univariate comparison of the two groups revealed various differences. Analysis of risk factors for suicide attempts using stepwise logistic regression was conducted separately for each group. The derived logistic models showed that patients from the BNG group had a history of higher incidence of sexual abuse in childhood, as well as abuse of laxatives and illicit drugs; they also lacked orientation in life, felt lonely despite family and friends, tended to direct their anger outward, and were unable to relax.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociopsychopathological risk factors for suicide attempts in the BNG and MDG appear to vary.

Aggressiveness, anger and eating disorders: a review

Anger and aggressive behaviours, especially those self-directed, are frequent in subjects suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. They increase the complexity of the clinical features, change the prognosis and cause a more difficult management of these disorders. In order to elucidate the complex relationships between eating disorders, anger and aggressiveness, the history of traumatic experiences, the prevalence of dissociative, obsessive, impulsive and compulsive symptoms, as well as the role of severe personality disorders in subjects suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and self-injurious behaviours are considered. In the final section of this paper, a model exploring such a relationship in the light of the undefined sense of self is described.

Role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in eating disorders: recent findings and its pathophysiological implications

Eating disorders, which include anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), are disorders characterized by abnormal patterns of weight regulation and eating behaviors, and by disturbances in attitudes and perceptions toward weight and body shape. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in regulating neural survival, development, function, and plasticity in the brain. Recent findings using heterozygous BDNF (+/-) knock-out (reduced BDNF levels) mice have provided evidence that BDNF plays a role in regulating eating behaviors. Recently, we found that serum levels of BDNF in patients with eating disorders are significantly decreased compared with normal controls. In addition, an association between the BDNF gene polymorphism and eating disorders has been demonstrated. We reviewed the role of BDNF in the pathophysiology of eating disorders and the BDNF gene as a susceptibility gene for eating disorders. Considering the low levels of BDNF in patients with eating disorders, using drugs that increase the BDNF levels and/or BDNF gene therapy are possible novel therapeutic approaches. Providing confirmation that the BDNF gene is the true susceptibility gene for eating disorders could lead to rapid therapeutic progress in treating these disorders. In addition, a more complete understanding of the signal transduction pathway via the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) and TrkB receptors would provide new perspectives for treating eating disorders.