How does someone who weighs so little feel like a burden to everyone?

Abstract

Introduction

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is one of the most lethal psychiatric disorders, which is explained partially by starvation related health problems, but also because of high suicide rates. One of the proposed theories to explain a suicide attempt is the interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS), with its three essential variables: feelings of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness and the acquired capacity for suicide.

Objective

To review the literature about suicidality in AN and to present a case report of a patient with restrictive AN who has committed suicide.

Methods

To review of the literature using the database Medline, through PubMed, with the keywords “anorexia nervosa”, “eating disorders” and “suicide”.

Results

Suicide attempts and completed suicide are highly prevalent among patients with AN, and some authors suggest that 20–40% of deaths in AN are due to suicide. Recently, the IPTS has been proposed as a mean to explain increased suicidality in AN patients.

Conclusion

We present a case report about a patient with a long standing AN who has committed suicide after leaving a goodbye note describing strong feelings of perceived burdensomeness directed to her family. It is of utmost importance to continue the study about the phenomenon of suicide in AN to be able to prevent this tragic outcome.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.