Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
J Psychiatr Pract. 2024 Sep 1;30(5):343-348. doi: 10.1097/PRA.0000000000000809.
Maladaptive eating behaviors remain prevalent in the US population, and a significant percentage of US college students acknowledge engaging in maladaptive eating. Formally defined eating disorders (EDs) have one of the highest mortality rates among all mental illnesses. Suicide risk is substantially elevated among individuals diagnosed with EDs, and even subclinical levels of maladaptive eating behaviors are associated with suicidality. The current study examined associations between specific problematic eating behaviors measured dimensionally (eg, purging, binging, laxative use) and specific suicide-related constructs and behaviors as well as overall suicide risk.
College students (N=188; 62% women) completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, a well-established measure of dysfunctional eating, as well as several self-report measures of theoretical components of suicidality, and, finally, a semistructured clinical interview to specify suicide risk category.
Results showed a general pattern of moderate and strong associations between the subscales and the overall score of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and core suicide constructs of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide. Many substantive correlations were found between specific eating behaviors and specific suicide-related behaviors; for example, purging was the highest correlate of overall suicide risk (ρ=0.36).
These results are discussed in terms of consistency with the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide as well as practical implications for intervention.
不良进食行为在美国人群中仍然普遍存在，相当一部分美国大学生承认存在不良进食行为。正式定义的饮食障碍（EDs）是所有精神疾病中死亡率最高的疾病之一。患有 EDs 的个体自杀风险显著升高，即使是亚临床水平的不良进食行为也与自杀意念相关。本研究旨在探讨特定的不良进食行为（如催吐、暴食、滥用泻药）与特定的与自杀相关的概念和行为以及整体自杀风险之间的关联。
大学生（N=188；62%为女性）完成了饮食障碍检查问卷，这是一种经过充分验证的衡量饮食失调的工具，以及一些自杀意念理论成分的自我报告测量工具，最后是半结构化的临床访谈以确定自杀风险类别。
结果显示，饮食障碍检查问卷的分量表和总分与自杀的人际心理理论的核心自杀概念之间存在中等至高度的关联。在特定的进食行为与特定的自杀相关行为之间发现了许多实质性的关联；例如，催吐与整体自杀风险的相关性最高（ρ=0.36）。
这些结果与自杀的人际心理理论的一致性以及干预的实际意义进行了讨论。
