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The Relationship between Body Dysmorphic Disorder Behaviors and the Acquired Capability for Suicide
Author(s) -
Witte Tracy K.,
Didie Elizabeth R.,
Menard William,
Phillips Katharine A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.2012.00093.x
Subject(s) - body dysmorphic disorder , suicidal ideation , psychology , suicide attempt , clinical psychology , interpersonal communication , suicide ideation , suicide prevention , psychiatry , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , social psychology
In a sample of 200 individuals diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), we utilized the interpersonal–psychological theory for suicide as a framework to examine BDD behaviors that might be associated with suicide risk, insofar as they might increase the acquired capability for suicide. We predicted that physically painful BDD behaviors (e.g., cosmetic surgery, restrictive eating) would be associated with suicide attempts but not suicide‐related ideation because these behaviors increase capability for, but not thoughts about, suicide. Our hypothesis was partially confirmed, as BDD‐related restrictive food intake was associated with suicide attempts (but not suicide‐related ideation) even after controlling for numerous covariates.