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Objective: Involuntary treatment in the prevention of fatal anorexia nervosa (AN) is still controversial., Method: Five fatal cases of AN were identified out of 1,160 patients who attended a specialized eating disorder unit between 1994 and 2006. Information on inpatient, ambulatory, and emergency room treatment was extracted from a population-based registration system., Results: Personality disorders were diagnosed in all five patients and substance abuse in three patients. In all cases, illness duration was more than 10 years and late onset was seen in two cases. None of the deaths were due to suicide. Involuntary hospital admission was instituted for three patients, but only one patient was compulsory detained more than once. Four patients died after having discontinued treatment., Discussion: Compulsory treatment may be of crucial importance in the prevention of fatalities in patients with long-standing AN and psychiatric comorbidity who discontinue treatment., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of suicidal behavior and comorbidity among patients 12-17 years of age with eating disorders. Previous studies showed an increased rate of suicidal behavior in young people with eating disorders., Materials and Methods: Data were collected as part of a European study concerning eating disorders. 37 patients (12-17 years, mean age 15 years) from the Center for Eating Disorders, Odense University Hospital, participated in the study. The frequency of suicidal behavior was tested individually by BAB-T interview (''Grading of Anorexia and Bulimia, Teen-ager''), which is a semi-structured interview with the patient, and by YSR (''Youth Self Report'') a questionnaire filled in by the patient herself., Results: Suicidal behavior was shown by 40% of the patients, and 29% had self-injurious behavior. There was a tendency for suicidal behavior and comorbidity to be more prominent in the youngest patients., Conclusion: The risk of suicidal behavior is greater in patients with eating disorders than in the background population. In the youngest patients there is an increased tendency to suicidal behavior and comorbidity, but this requires further documentation. The clinician must be aware of self-injurious behavior in patients with eating disorders, including those between 12 and 17 years of age.