(PS14-9) Subtypes of Eating Disorder Symptoms, Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, Capability for Suicide, and Their Associations with Suicide Ideation and Attempts

Suicidal ideation and attempts (i.e., suicidality) as well as eating disorders are common among Iranian individuals. Additionally, suicidality is associated with symptoms of eating disorders (EDs). Despite this, there is limited understanding of the impact of ED symptoms and suicide risk factors on suicidality. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide (IPTS) identifies factors such as thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and capability for suicide as necessary factors for suicidality to occur. The tenets of IPTS have been supported among individuals with ED symptoms from Western countries. However, no study has yet explored how they ED symptoms might co-occur with IPTS factors and potentially relate to suicidal ideation and attempts. Therefore, this study aims to identify subtypes of ED symptoms, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, capability for suicide, and their associations with suicidal and attempts using latent profile analysis (LPA) among Iranian community members. Participants (N = 773), aged 18-75 (M = 29.59, SD = 8.77), completed a battery of scales assessing ED symptoms, suicide-related risk factors, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The LPA revealed that a six-class solution best fit the data. We found that the classes with highest levels of IPTS and binge-purge related symptoms were related to the highest levels of suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Our findings suggest that suicide risk assessment and measurement of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and capability for suicide is particularly important for individuals with binge/purge type eating disorders. Interventions that target IPTS-related factors may be effective in addressing suicidality in individuals with disordered eating.