The Co-Occurring Prevalence of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Disordered Eating Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Disordered eating (DE) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are transdiagnostic phenomena particularly prevalent among youth; but documentation of the prevalence of DE/NSSI comorbidity is limited. This review aimed to (1) synthesize existing prevalence data on comorbid DE/NSSI among this population and (2) describe co-occurring NSSI and specific DE behaviors where possible. PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched; 15 studies were included in this review. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale adapted for cross-sectional studies was used to assess the risk of bias; five studies were rated as low risk of bias and 10 as moderate risk of bias. The weighted average comorbid prevalence of DE/NSSI was 4.46%, and differences across gender, age, DE behaviors, and measure types are discussed. There was limited available data for the characteristics of NSSI within comorbid DE. Clinicians should screen for comorbidity when either DE or NSSI is present. The primary methodological issue of included studies was the variance in reliability and validity of DE and NSSI measures; future research should address these issues and prioritize inclusion of non-White, non-Western, and gender/sexual minority youth.