Suicidal and Self-Harming Behaviors in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder With and Without Eating Disorders

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and eating disorders (EDs) frequently co-occur. The present study investigated whether treatment-seeking patients with BPD and a comorbid ED experienced increased risk of self-harm or suicide behaviors. In a sample of 350 patients with BPD, 61 (17.4%) had a comorbid ED: 25 (7.1%) had bulimia nervosa (BN), 15 (4.2%) had an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), 13 (3.7%) had bingeeating disorder (BED), and 8 (2.2%) had anorexia nervosa (AN). Comorbid BED and AN were individually significantly associated with recurrent suicide attempt over the past year, while comorbid AN was associated with greater lethality of recent self-harm. These results suggest that ED diagnosis may constitute a risk factor for self-harm and suicide behaviors in patients with BPD.