Eating Disorders and Non-suicidal Self-injury: Cluster Analysis Considering Eating Pathology, Emotion Dysregulation, and Negative Urgency

Purpose:Research on the interplay between eating pathology, difficulties in emotion regulation and negative urgency is needed to better inform and tailor the current intervention approaches for patients with eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury. The current study aimed to investigate the phenotypic characterization of patients with eating disorders and history of lifetime non-suicidal self-injury when considering eating pathology, emotion dysregulation and negative urgency. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study evaluating 73 patients with eating disorders and history of lifetime non-suicidal self-injury (14-55 years; 68 Female). A cluster analysis (K-means) was performed using eating pathology, difficulties in emotion regulation and negative urgency. Differences between clusters were explored on sociodemographic/psychological variables, distribution of the DSM-5 eating disorder diagnostics and past/current non-suicidal self-injury engagement Results: Three clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (n = 29) (moderate severity) was characterized by high levels of eating pathology, but moderate emotion dysregulation and negative urgency. Cluster 2 (n = 29) (high severity) was characterized by the highest scores in eating pathology, emotion dysregulation and negative urgency. Within this cluster there was the highest prevalence of patients with current non-suicidal self-injury. Cluster 3 (n = 15) (low severity) was characterized by the lowest levels of eating pathology, emotion dysregulation and negative urgency and included more patients with past non-suicidal self-injury. Conclusion: The three distinctive profiles highlights the importance of emotion dysregulation and negative urgency as a personalized treatment target for eating disorders patients with current NSSI. Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies