IS ANOREXIA-NERVOSA ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED RATES OF SUICIDE

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether individ uals with anorexia nervosa are more likely to commit suicide, as sugge sted by previously noted associations between anorexia nervosa and moo d disorders. Methods. Dais from death records representing over 5 mill ion women were examined, yielding 571 cases in which anorexia nervosa was mentioned as an existing rendition. The women with anorexia were c ompared with 1713 control subjects matched for age, sex, and race. Res ults. The percentage of suicides among those listed as raving anorexia nervosa was only 1.4%, compared with 4.1.% for the controls. Conclusi ons. These findings suggest that the suicide rate is not elevated amon g individuals currently suffering fi-om anorexia nervosa.