Characterizing Momentary Suicidal Thoughts in Adults with Restrictive Eating Disorders and Suicidality

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Atypical AN (AAN) are disorders that exhibit elevated mortality rates due to both suicide and eating disorder (ED) related health complications. However, there is a lack of information explicitly highlighting the prevalence, frequency, duration, and severity of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) at a momentary level in individuals with restrictive EDs and suicidality. Real-time technologies such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA) are critical for clarifying the granular nature of how these conditions progress. Leveraging 21 days of EMA data, this project aims to describe the prevalence and characteristics of suicide-related cognitions and behaviors in a sample of approximately 120 adults with diagnoses of AN and AAN with current or past suicidality. Specifically, we will report descriptive statistics surrounding the prevalence, frequency, and self-reported severity of cognitive SITB symptoms, such as passive and active suicidal ideation, controllability of suicidal thoughts, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. Although this paper will primarily focus on suicidal ideation, we will also explore the momentary and lifetime prevalence of self-injurious behaviors such as non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts in this sample.