Examining the impacts of nonsuicidal self-injury on eating disorder treatment

This study examined whether lifetime nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in patients with Eating Disorders (ED) is associated with more severe clinical presentations and moderates clinical outcomes in a partial hospitalization treatment program. Data on eating symptomology, quality of life, and functional impairment were obtained from 1,234 patients at admission and discharge. Analyses included t-tests, linear regression, and repeated measures mixed models with two- and three-way interactions to examine if outcomes varied by lifetime NSSI. Nearly half of the ED patients reported lifetime NSSI. Those with NSSI were most likely to be younger, female, and diagnosed with ED Not Otherwise Specified, and had a more severe clinical presentation. Outcomes, however, did not vary by lifetime NSSI.