Suicide Attempts and Clinical Severity of Eating Disorders: an Exploratory Study

This study examines whether eating disorder patients with suicide attempts present differences in disordered eating & clinical traits compared to those without suicide attempts. A total of 144 female Portuguese patients with eating disorders completed questionnaires. Eating disorder patients with suicide attempts differed from their peers regarding weight history, having a more chaotic pattern of binge-purge attacks, use of vomiting to control weight, use of alcohol & psychotropic drugs, menstrual pattern, sexual attitudes, & some of the Eating Disorders Inventory & Symptom Checklist-90-Revised subscales. (10 refs.)