Factors associated with suicidal behaviors in a large French sample of inpatients with eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to identify factors associated with suicidal behaviors among patients with eating disorders.

METHOD: A large database including sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 1,009 consecutive patients hospitalized for an eating disorder in Paris, France, was examined. Data gathered upon admission to hospital were analyzed to identify factors associated with a history of suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation, among the whole sample as well as among each subtype of eating disorder.

RESULTS: Among the whole sample, the factor most strongly associated with suicide attempt or suicidal ideation was the diagnostic category, with the highest odds ratio for bulimia nervosa followed by anorexia nervosa of the binging/purging subtype. Among diagnostic subgroups, the strongest factors were drug use, alcohol use, and tobacco use.

CONCLUSION: Suicide risk should be monitored carefully among patients with eating disorders, paying particular attention to combinations of risk factors.