This study aims to assess psychiatric & nutritional correlates of serum cholesterol in a sample of 74 anorexia nervosa patients. Serum cholesterol & nutritional status were evaluated before starting any type of re-feeding. All subjects underwent a structured clinical interview & completed the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. The results indicated that subjects who reported previous suicide attempts, impulsive self-injurious behaviour, or current suicidal ideation showed significantly lower cholesterol levels than subjects without suicidality. (28 refs)