Putative Risk Factors for Non‐Suicidal Self‐Injury in Eating Disorders

Abstract

Evidence suggests a common association between eating disorders (EDs) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The present study aimed to investigate the potential risk factors for NSSI among ED patients. We assessed 245 ED patients with the Oxford Risk Factor Interview for ED. The results showed that 33% of ED patients reported NSSI in their lifetime. NSSI appeared to occur more frequently among binge eating/purging type ED patients than among patients with other ED and to be related to a more severe eating pathology. A younger age at the onset of eating problems, more negative self-evaluation, suicide attempts, substance abuse, parents' low weight, family tension at mealtime, parental alcohol problems, childhood abuse, peer aggression, and negative antecedent life events were more common among patients with co-occurring EDs and NSSI than among patients without NSSI. The results may inform the risk assessment and treatment of NSSI in EDs in the early detection period. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Eating disorders and non‐suicidal self‐injury: Structural equation modelling of a conceptual model

“…The cross‐sectional design of this study does not allow firm conclusions about causality. Our findings are derived from a sample assessed in a previous study (Vieira et al, ). Together with the use of cross‐sectional data, this underscores the need for future studies that replicate the study findings.…”

“…This study aimed to specify and test a model of relationships between distal and proximal factors associated with NSSI among ED patients based on the conceptual model of Claes and Muehlenkamp () and on the putative risk factors for NSSI in ED previously observed (cf. Vieira et al, ). First, we confirmed the overall rationale of the model of Claes and Muehlenkamp (), because the assessed potential risk factors were distal and proximal in nature, confirming the role of stressful life events in the relationship between them.…”

“…Although the model of Claes and Muehlenkamp () is well‐established in the literature, and previous studies have examined certain distal and proximal risk factors (e.g., Anderson, Smith, Mason, & Crowther, ; Muehlenkamp, Claes, Smits, Peat, & Vandereycken, ; Vieira et al, ), scholars need to explore the relationships among those factors and their potential intermediary processes to achieve a greater understanding of direct and indirect pathways for heightened risk of ED and NSSI overlap. Knowledge of how these factors relate can help clinicians better understand the lifelong developmental trajectory of self‐harm behaviours and identify evaluation and intervention targets.…”

Associations of food addiction and nonsuicidal self‐injury among women with an eating disorder: A common strategy for regulating emotions?

“…A better understanding of the relationship between FA, NSSI, and emotion regulation is essential for a more comprehensive understanding of risk factors for both FA and NSSI. Previously established associations between NSSI and binge‐type ED, increased exhibition of dysregulated behaviour among individuals with NSSI and ED and an overlap between FA and binge‐type disorders are indicative of several overlaps across behaviours (Gearhardt et al, ; Islam et al, ; Steward et al, ; Vieira et al, ; Wolz et al, ). Furthermore, emotion dysregulation can be considered as a common trait among individuals with NSSI and FA (Muehlenkamp et al, ; Wolz et al, ; Yurkowski et al, ).…”

“…Given the significant overlap of individuals with FA and binge eating behaviours, it is reasonable to assume that individuals with FA may also be at higher risk for NSSI, as shown by the aforementioned data on NSSI among individuals with binge‐type ED and the commonly reported difficulties in emotion regulation in both conditions (Gearhardt et al, 2012; Vieira et al, ). There is also evidence for the presence of impulsivity in individuals with FA and NSSI, further suggesting a potential association between these behaviours (Wolz et al, ).…”