A Retrospective Cohort Study of Suicidality Among Patients With Binge Eating Disorder

Individuals diagnosed with binge eating disorder (BED) are at higher risk of suicidality than those not diagnosed with BED. This study estimated the incidence (per 1000 person-years) of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts during a post-index date follow-up period (ie, the date of first BED recognition in the study period). A BED cohort (N=1042) was identified using natural language processing of clinical notes sourced from the Optum electronic health record database from January 1, 2009 to September 30, 2015. Incidence in the general population was estimated using a propensity-score matched comparator (MC) cohort (N=10,420). Incidence (95% CI) of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was 31.1 (23.1, 41.0) and 12.7 (7.9, 19.4) in the BED cohort and 5.8 (4.7, 7.1) and 1.4 (0.9, 2.2) in the MC cohort, respectively. In BED patients with (n=71) versus without (n=971) comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the baseline period, incidence (95% CI) of suicidal ideation was 73.5 (23.9, 171.6) versus 29.2 (21.3, 39.1) and of suicide attempts was 57.2 (15.6, 146.4) versus 10.7 (6.3, 17.2). In BED patients who had (n=52) versus did not have (n=990) bariatric surgery in the baseline period, incidence (95% CI) of suicidal ideation was 55.5 (18.0, 129.5) versus 29.6 (21.6, 39.6) and of suicide attempts was 32.4 (6.7, 94.6) versus 11.5 (6.8, 18.2). These findings suggest suicide risk was greater in BED patients than in an MC cohort during the post-index date follow-up period, with the presence of ADHD or bariatric surgery in the baseline period increasing risk.

This poster was presented at the 32nd annual Psych Congress, held Oct. 3-6, 2019, in San Diego, California.