Self-Harm Behaviors Among Those with Eating Disorders: An Overview

Abstract

Large epidemiological studies on the prevalence of self-harm behavior among those with eating disorders are not currently available. Using the Medline and PsycINFO databases, the authors collectively summarize data from available studies. The largest group of studies reports the prevalence of suicide attempts among outpatients with bulimia nervosa to be 23% (n = 1211). The prevalence of suicide attempts among bulimic inpatients was 39% (n = 260), alcoholic bulimics 54% (n = 76), and outpatient anorexics 16% (n = 261). Self-injury among bulimic outpatients was 25% (n = 574), inpatient bulimics 25% (n = 260), and outpatient anorexics 23% (n = 52). The authors discuss the possible implications of these findings.