Prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa among women who recently attempted suicide compared with suicide non-attempting women

Abstract

Aim of the study: The suicide risk in patients with eating disorders is 5-6 times higher than that of the general population. Due to the high likelihood of re-suicide in suicide survivors, in this study, we investigated the prevalence of the anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa among women who recently attempted suicide compared with suicide non-attempting women. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, two groups of 30 women aged 15-45-year-old were investigated after a suicide attempt. Case group was admitted to the Razi Hospital poisoning ward and the control group was admitted to other wards of the hospital. Data were collected using the EAT-26 questionnaire and a clinical interview based on the SCID-V. Finally, the results were analyzed using the SPSS version 21. Results: The both groups' mean age was 26.96± 6.3 and 27.2±7.16 years, respectively. There was no significant difference in age, employment status, marital status, and education level between the two groups (P>0.05). The prevalence of both disorders did not show a significant interaction with demographic characteristics. The average prevalence of both disorders among the case group was 32.78±8.1 and 37.42±7.21, respectively, and was significantly different in women who had recently attempted suicide compared to their counterparts (p <0.05). Discussion: Our findings are consistent with all previously conducted studies. Conclusion: The prevalence of these disorders was significantly higher in women who had recently committed suicide compared to the control group (p <0.05), although there was no significant difference in the prevalence of both disorders with other sociodemographic factors.