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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Interoception, Self-Injury and Suicidal Ideation in Female Adolescents With Restrictive Eating Disorders and
Anna Riva1,2, Carlo Panarella1, Gabriele Arienti1
1Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy.
Aims:
Both restrictive eating disorders (REDs) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are characterised by a higher risk of self-injury and suicidal ideation; however, the possible role of altered interoception in modulating such risk is poorly understood. We set out to conduct a clinical study to explore the relationship between interoception, self-injury and suicidal ideation in patients with REDs and BPD.
Methods:
We recruited a sample of 75 female adolescents affected by REDs, of whom 21 had co-morbid BPD. In addition to collecting comprehensive demographic and clinical data, we administered the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Version 2 (MAIA-2) to all patients.
Results:
The risk of nonsuicidal self-injury was predicted by co-morbid BPD (p < 0.001), lower scores on the MAIA-2 'trusting' subscale (p = 0.033) and higher scores on the 'not-distracting' subscale (p = 0.027). The risk of suicidal ideation was predicted by co-morbid BPD (p < 0.001), lower scores on the MAIA-2 'trusting' subscale (p = 0.039), and higher scores on the 'not-distracting' (p = 0.005) and 'self-regulation' (p = 0.011) subscales.
Conclusions:
The presence of co-morbid BPD, together with mistrust in body sensations and heightened emotional reaction and attentional response to interoceptive sensations, can increase the risk for both self-injury and suicidal ideation in female adolescents with REDs. Higher awareness of mind-body integration appears to further increase the risk for suicidal ideation only.
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