title: Psychotropic drug use among college students: patterns of use, misuse, and medical monitoring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether college students who use psychotropic drugs are (1) aware of potential side effects, (2) appropriately monitored by prescribing physicians, and (3) taking medications as prescribed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five college students, currently taking psychotropic medications, were recruited between Summer 2008 and Fall 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were given interviews assessing (1) interactions with prescribing physicians, (2) patterns of psychotropic drug use, and (3) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) substance use disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five percent of participants did not remember being assessed for suicidal ideation. A large number of participants took their medications in different quantities or frequencies than prescribed and 35% of participants met DSM criteria for substance dependence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many students are misusing psychotropic medications and this misuse is not being communicated with prescribing physicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA. lsander@wayne.edu
authors.forename: Lindsay M S
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Oberleitner
authors.forename: Golfo K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Tzilos
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Zumberg
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Grekin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011594:Psychometrics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs