Mortality in eating disorders: a descriptive study.
OBJECTIVE
We report rates and causes of death for a cohort of 246 eating-disordered women and provide descriptive information on their eating disorder and comorbid diagnoses.


METHODS
Data on mortality were collected as part of a longitudinal study of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, now in its 11th year. Other data sources included death certificates, autopsy reports, relative interviews, and a National Death Index search.


RESULTS
Seven deaths have occurred during the study, all among anorexic subjects with a history of binging and purging and with comorbid Axis I disorders. The crude mortality rate was 5.1%. The standardized mortality ratios for death (9.6) and suicide (58.1) were significantly elevated (p <. 001).


CONCLUSIONS
Anorexia nervosa is associated with a substantial risk of death and suicide. Features correlated with fatal outcome are longer duration of illness, binging and purging, comorbid substance abuse, and comorbid affective disorders.
Herzog
D B
DB
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.herzogd@al.mgh.harvard.edu
Greenwood
D N
DN
Dorer
D J
DJ
Flores
A T
AT
Ekeblad
E R
ER
Richards
A
A
Blais
M A
MA
Keller
M B
MB
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D003644:Death Certificates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data