Second, the presence of particular AN symptoms or a
history of AN may produce additional risks. These include
the presence of binge-purge patterns [79], markers
of chronicity including illness duration and very low
weight [80], and high anxiety in AN-R [79]. Rates of
completed suicides in people with AN are debated [2],
with one study reporting suicide as the second most
frequent cause of death in a retrospective study of those
treated in an ED service [81]. The most consistent finding
is approximately 20% of deaths in AN are attributable
to suicide [82]. It is self-evident that assessment of
suicidal ideation and behaviours is important, especially
in those presenting with co-morbidity.