Depression Disorder & Body Image

Women with Breast Implants More Likely to Commit Suicide

Oct 20, 2007

In recent years there have been six studies investigating the relationship between cosmetic breast augmentation and suicide. What's the connection?

In July of 2007, Sarwer et al. published a review article in The American Journal of Psychiatry investigating recent research linking breast augmentation and suicide. The studies revealed that the suicide rate of women who received cosmetic breast implants is approximately twice the expected rate based on estimates of the general population.

What’s the Relationship?

There are several possible explanations for the correlation between breast implants, including:

Personality Characteristics and Psychopathology

Several studies have found that women who receive breast implants differ from other women on a variety of characteristics. They are more likely to:

Some of these characteristics have been found to be risk factors for suicide, including:

Another characteristic by which women with breast implants differ from other women is their dissatisfaction with their body, and body image dissatisfaction may be the primary motivational factor in the pursuit of cosmetic surgery.

Several empirical studies have found that cosmetic surgery patients report dissatisfaction with their body image before surgery which improves postoperatively (Sarwer 2004).

Between 3% and 15% of cosmetic surgery and dermatology patients have been found to have Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and 90% of this population experienced either no change or a worsening in their disorder following surgery (Crerand 2005).

The emotional suffering associated with Body Dysmorphic Disorder may lead some to contemplate or attempt suicide. The mean annual suicidal ideation rate among persons with BDD is 57.8%, and the mean annual suicide attempt rate is 2.6% (Phillips 2006).

Psychiatric Hospitalization

Jacobsen (2004) investigated psychiatric history of their cosmetic breast augmentation patients and found a higher rate of previous psychiatric hospitalizations among women with breast implants compared to both women who underwent other cosmetic procedures.

Among women in the general population, a history of psychiatric hospitalizations has been shown to be a strong predictor of suicide (Qin 2003).

Patients’ Motivations and Expectations

Several studies have suggested that patients report improvements in body image and quality of life and decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms following surgery. However there is presently no evidence indicating that patients' social relationships improve after surgery, and Honigman (2004) concluded that unrealistic expectations are associated with poor postoperative outcomes.

Some women may enter into breast augmentation surgery with unrealistic expectations about the effect that breast augmentation will have on their lives. When these expectations are not met, they may experience depression and potentially become suicidal.

Conclusions

Although there certainly appears to be a relationship between cosmetic breast augmentation and suicide, the specific nature of this relationship is unknown. The authors advise that women interested in breast enhancement who present with a history of psychopathology or who the plastic surgeon thinks may have problems with mental health should undergo psychological consultation before surgery.

More Information from this Study

To find additional information on Psychology in general, see the excellent website Psychology Prof Online. For more information on the studies of cosmetic breast implants and suicide, see the continued exploration of this study in the Suite101 article Breast Augmentation & Suicide.

This is a summary of one article describing the possible link between breast augmentation and suicide. It is not meant to take the place of medical or psychiatric care.

Sources

Crerand CE, Phillips KA, Menard W, Fay C: (2005) Non psychiatric medical treatment of body dysmorphic disorder. Psychosomatics 2005, 46.

Honigman R, Phillips KA, Castle DJ (2004) A review of psychosocial outcomes for patients seeking cosmetic surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg, 113.

National Plastic Surgery Procedural Statistics, 2006. Arlington Heights, III, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2007

Phillips KA, Menard W (2006) Suicidality in body dysmorphic disorder: a prospective study. Am J Psychiatry, 163.

Qin P, Agerbo E, Mortensen PB (2003) Suicide risk in relation to socioeconomic, demographic, psychiatric, and familial factors: a national register-based study of all suicides in Denmark, 1981-1997. Am J Psychiatry, 160.

Sarwer DB (2004) Discussion of causes of death among Finnish women with cosmetic breast implants, 1971-2001. Ann Plast Surg, 51.

The copyright of the article Depression Disorder & Body Image in Women’s Health is owned by Tami Port. Permission to republish Depression Disorder & Body Image in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Apr 28, 2008 1:36 AM

Guest :

I have been searching for articles regarding woman who have had Breast Enhancement or Augmentation and corresponding divorce rates. The closest thing I have found are one liners that "Divorce rates are higher". What is this based on? Are there any study results that make a direct quantative correlation?