Ilana Huz1, Maren Nyer2, Claire Dickson3, Amy Farabaugh2, Jonathan Alpert2, Maurizio Fava2, Lee Baer2. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: IlanaHuz@gmail.com. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the association of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) with suicide risk among college students. METHODS: Subjects were 474 college students who attended mental health screenings at two private universities and completed multiple self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: Presence of one or more OCS was associated with an increased odds ratio of suicide risk of approximately 2.4, although this was no longer a significant risk factor when controlling for depressive symptoms. Of the OCS assessed, only obsessions about speaking or acting violently remained an independent risk factor for suicidality over and above depression. CONCLUSIONS: Although our study was cross-sectional in nature and thus cannot determine causality, increased burden of particular OCS symptom clusters, such as violent or aggressive obsessions, may increase risk among college students, for suicidal ideation.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the association of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) with suicide risk among college students. METHODS: Subjects were 474 college students who attended mental health screenings at two private universities and completed multiple self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: Presence of one or more OCS was associated with an increased odds ratio of suicide risk of approximately 2.4, although this was no longer a significant risk factor when controlling for depressive symptoms. Of the OCS assessed, only obsessions about speaking or acting violently remained an independent risk factor for suicidality over and above depression. CONCLUSIONS: Although our study was cross-sectional in nature and thus cannot determine causality, increased burden of particular OCS symptom clusters, such as violent or aggressive obsessions, may increase risk among college students, for suicidal ideation.
Authors: Namik Kirlic; Elisabeth Akeman; Danielle C DeVille; Hung-Wen Yeh; Kelly T Cosgrove; Timothy J McDermott; James Touthang; Ashley Clausen; Martin P Paulus; Robin L Aupperle Journal: J Am Coll Health Date: 2021-07-22