Self-Harm is Common Among Adolescents With Eating Disorders
Self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury (SI) are common among adolescents, particularly among adolescents with eating disorders. Previous studies have shown that SI seems to be associated with sexual trauma, mood disorders, and substance abuse. The present study aimed to find out whether (1) SI is associated with any specific eating disorder symptoms, such as bingeing, or purging, and (2) how often clinicians screen for SI behaviours (and whether particular patients are more likely to be screened than others).
Dr. Rebecka Peebles and colleagues looked retrospectively at intake evaluations of 1,432 patients between the ages of 10-21 (mean age 15). Three quarters of the patients were Caucasian, and slightly over 9% were male. Sixty-three percent had an intake diagnosis of eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS).
MAIN FINDINGS FOR AIM 1
- Of those screened for SI behaviours, 40.8% engaged in SI
- Cutting was the most common SI behaviour reported (85%)
- Bingeing/purging was