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.
Pompili
Maurizio
M
Department of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, Italy. maurizio.pompili@unifoma1.it
Girardi
Paolo
P
Tatarelli
Giulia
G
Ruberto
Amedeo
A
Tatarelli
Roberto
R
D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires