Eating disorder analysis
should be included in assessments for mood and suicide
(September 29, 2003 -
Adolescent Health)
"In a mixed male-female sample
of 1000 adolescents age 15 to 19 years in a northeastern area of Italy, we
investigated the links between eating disorders and suicidal tendencies by
means of self-compiled measures, including the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT),
the Bulimic Investigatory Test of Edinburgh (BITE), the Body Attitudes Test
(BAT), and the SCL-90-R," according to a study from Italy.
"More females than males reported abnormal eating patterns suggesting eating
disorders: we found that 100 females (15.8%) and 8 males (2.8%) achieved
scores above the suggested cutoff on EAT (cutoff = 30), 26 females (4.1%)
and 1 male (.3%) achieved scores above the suggested cutoff on BITE (cutoff
= 20), and 287 females (45.5%) and 24 males (8.6%) achieved scores above the
suggested cutoff on BAT (cutoff = 36)," P. Miotto and colleagues, University
of Cagliari, Department of Psychology said.
"More females than males also reported symptoms of hopelessness (44.3% vs.
30.5%) and suicidal ideation (30.8% vs.
25.3%). Both males and females
reporting suicidal ideation achieved significantly higher scores on the
eating disorders inventories, with no independent contribution by age,
socioeconomic status, or body mass index."
"Although caution is required when drawing conclusions from self-reported
measures, studies on mood disorders and suicidality in youth clearly need to
include measures of eating disorders," researchers recommended.
Miotto and colleagues published their study in Journal of Nervous and Mental
Disease (Eating disorders and suicide risk factors in adolescents: An
Italian community-based study. J Nerv Ment Dis, 2003;191(7):437-443).
For more information, contact P. Miotto, University of Cagliari, Department
of Psychology, Via Costantinopoli 42, I-09129 Cagliari, Italy.
The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of
Eating Disorder, Mental Health, and Women's Health. This article was
prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.
©Copyright 2003, Health &
Medicine Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
