Suicidal ideation in a sample with a first-episode of restrictive eating disorders: The role of biomarkers

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the associations between the presence of suicidal ideation (SI), depressive symptoms and potential biomarkers in a sample with treatment-naïve first episode restrictive eating disorder Method: The observational study included 77 patients and 53 controls matched by age and socioeconomic status. We used the Beck Depressive Inventory focusing particularly on item 9, which measure the severity of SI. Results: We found high rates of SI (40.8%) and depression (52.9%). Serum ​​levels of homocysteine were significantly higher among patients who reported SI compared with patients without SI (t = 2.47; p = .016; d = 0.595). Greater depressive symptoms were significantly correlated to lower levels of vitamin B12 (t = 2.08; p = .041; d = -0.504) and folic acid (U = 403.5; p = .015; d = -0.039). Serum levels of homocysteine were inversely correlated to those of vitamin B12 ​​(rho = -0.310; p < 0.01) and folic acid (rho = -0.329; p < 0.01). Limitations: The results may not be generalizable to patients with purgative behaviors or males. Conclusions: Our study suggests that patients with restrictive eating disorder seem to have a higher rate of SI and depressive symptoms in the early stages of the disease. These results show the importance of affective symptoms and their role in the pathogenesis and illness outcome. Moreover, the evidence from this study suggest that elevated homocysteine ​​levels could be related to the presence of SI. Therefore, early detection and treatment of these patients could lead to an improvement in their prognosis.