Suicidal thoughts and attempts in a transdiagnostic eating disorder sample: Do diagnostic severity criteria predict risk?

Objective

Eating disorders (EDs) are associated with elevated suicide. Low body mass index (BMI) and frequency of purging and binge eating represent severity criteria for EDs and distinguish full-threshold EDs from other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED). However, no work has taken a transdiagnostic approach to studying whether severity of these or other features is associated with suicidal ideation (SI) and attempts.

Method

We examined diagnostic status, ED features, and SI and attempts in a large, transdiagnostic, community sample of 257 women with EDs and 45 controls without a current or past ED in the United States using the EDs Examination interview and the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

Results

SI and suicide attempts (SA) were elevated in OSFED compared to controls but did not differ between OSFED and full-threshold EDs. Higher BMI predicted increased SI. Number of purging methods, but not frequency, was related to history of SA. Binge episode frequency and size were not significant predictors.

Conclusions

OSFED presents with elevated SI and SA, and ED severity criteria that distinguish OSFED from full-threshold EDs do not predict SI or SA. Suicide risk assessments should be implemented universally across EDs in clinical practice.