@article{ref1,
title="Comorbidity of self-harm and disordered eating in young people: evidence from a UK population-based cohort",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2021",
author="Stewart, Anne and Moran, Paul and Mars, Becky and Heron, Jon and Warne, Naomi and Bould, Helen and Gunnell, David and Skinner, Andy and Biddle, Lucy and Munafó, Marcus",
volume="282",
number="",
pages="386-390",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Self-harm and eating disorders are often comorbid in clinical samples but their co-occurrence in the general population is unclear. Given that only a  small proportion of individuals who self-harm or have disordered eating present to  clinical services, and that both self-harm and eating disorders are associated with  substantial morbidity and mortality, it is important to study these behaviours at a  population level. <br><br>METHODS: We assessed the co-occurrence of self-harm and disordered  eating behaviours in 3384 females and 2326 males from a UK population-based cohort:  the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Participants reported  on their self-harm and disordered eating behaviours (fasting, purging, binge-eating  and excessive exercise) in the last year via questionnaire at 16 and 24 years. At  each age we assessed how many individuals who self-harm also reported disordered  eating, and how many individuals with disordered eating also reported self-harm. <br><br>RESULTS: We found high comorbidity of self-harm and disordered eating. Almost  two-thirds of 16-year-old females, and two-in-five 24-year old males who self-harmed  also reported some form of disordered eating. Young people with disordered eating  reported higher levels of self-harm at both ages compared to those without  disordered eating. LIMITATIONS: We were not able to measure whether participants  identified their disordered eating as a method of self-harm. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Self-harm  and disordered eating commonly co-occur in young people in the general population. It is important to screen for both sets of difficulties to provide appropriate  treatment.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.053",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.053"
}