Common Decision Making Deficits in Suicidal Behaviors and Eating Disorders

The role of impulsivity and its contribution to suicidal behavior seems intuitively clear. Empirical results have proved the existence of a relationship between the two yet many questions are left unanswered, especially what differentiates suicide ideators from attempters.. Obsessive thinking patterns are thought processes which share a repetitive behavior domain and are exerted by an inner voice. 3 types of obsessive thinking patterns are self destructive thoughts, ruminations and overvalued ideas. Impulsivity and obsessive thinking patterns are presumed to have a common mechanism of behaviors which are resulted from basal ganglia dysregulation and thus effect inhibition. Novel research in the field of decision making could help to learn more about behavioral patterns associated with self harm behavior and suicide. Eating Disorders involve suicidal and self harm behavior, which both feature impulsivity and obsessive thinking patterns. The investigators study proposes a 3-step theoretical model which asserts there is a connection between impulsivity, obsessive thinking and poor decision making, all effecting self harm behavior. Contemporary research has not been able to fully understand the nature of impulsivity and its effect on self harm behavior, including eating disorders symptoms, nor addressed the impact of obsessive thinking patterns on the latter. 100 female participants with Eating Disorders and suicidal behavior will be recruited for the proposed research. Subjects will be given self-report questionnaires and computerized behavioral tasks. A one way ANOVA of two eating disorder subgroups, impulsive and non impulsive, will be conducted, following a hierarchical multiple regression with self harm behavior being the dependent variable.