Abstract
Objectives: Data on sociodemographic, biographical, and clinical factors associated with a lifetime diagnosis of eating disorders (ED) in patients with non-psychotic mental disorders (NPMD) and suicidal ideation (SI) are scarce.
Methods: A cohort study was conducted at the Moscow Research and Clinical Centre for Neuropsychiatry. The sample consisted of consecutive patients with non-psychotic mental disorders and SI, aged 18-45 years. Participants with a lifetime diagnosis of anorexia and/or bulimia (in current remission or recovery) were compared with those without ED in terms of sociodemographic profile, clinical characteristics, lifetime traumatic events and some behavioral patterns. All participants underwent the Russian version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) and completed the Brief Reasons for Living Inventory (bRFL), the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
Results: A total of 892 patients with non-psychotic mental disorders and SI were included in the study. The mean age was 25.7 years and 84.0% were assigned female at birth. Same-sex experience was more common in the ED group. Patients with ED were more likely to have a history of physical and sexual abuse and to have witnessed domestic violence. Significantly more patients with ED had piercings, tattoos or severe body modifications. Patients in the ED group were more likely to engage in non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors and to have a history of suicide attempts.
Limitations: Retrospective design, referral population, retrospective diagnosis of ED, diagnosis based on expert opinion, and exclusion of psychotic patients and participants older than 45 years.
Conclusion: Lifetime ED in NPMD patients with SI is associated with younger age, being assigned female at birth, having an alternative gender identity, having same-sex experience, having more than one psychiatric diagnosis, having a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, having more severe depression and anxiety, being exposed to multiple traumatic experiences, having various body modifications, practicing NSSI and having lifetime suicide attempt.