Self-injurious behavior and eating disorders: psychological correlates and short-term treatment

Abstract

Lifetime self-injurious behavior (SIB) has been linked to heightened eating disorder symptomatology and general psychopathology (Muehlenkamp, et al., 2011). This study examines the lifetime prevalence, psychological variables, and short-term outcomes in a large sample of eating disordered inpatients with a history of self-injury. Patients who were currently engaging in purely impulsive SIB or purely compulsive SIB were also compared using identical dependent variables. SIB+ patients were 64% of the sample, and were found to be younger, have lower ages of eating disorder onset, and higher BMIs at admission. They were also more likely to engage in purging, have greater eating disorder sympomatology, and general psychopathology. No significant differences were found between patients with current impulsive SIB and compulsive SIB, nor were there any differences in short-term treatment outcome variables. Future studies must focus more on the current SIB, type of SIB, and effect of SIB+ on long-term treatment outcomes.