Mortality in eating disorders: A descriptive study

Objective: We report rates and causes of death for a cohort of 246 eating d isordered women and provide descriptive information on their eating disorde r and comorbid diagnoses Method: Data on mortality were collected as part o f a longitudinal study of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, now in its 11th year. Of her data sources included death certificates, autopsy reports , relative interviews, and a National Death Index search. Results: Seven de aths have occurred during the study, all among anorexic subjects with a his tory of binging and purging and with comorbid Axis I disorders. The crude m ortality rate was 5.1%. The standardized mortality ratios for death (9.6) a nd suicide (58.1) were significantly elevated (p <.001). Conclusions: Anore xia nervosa is associated with a substantial risk of death and suicide. Fea tures correlated with fatal outcome are longer duration of illness, binging and purging, comorbid substance abuse, and comorbid affective disorders. ( C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.