title: Factors that distinguish college students with depressive symptoms with and without suicidal thoughts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide among college students is a significant public health concern. Although suicidality is linked to depression, not all depressed college students experience suicidal ideation (SI). The primary aim of this study was to determine potential factors that may distinguish college students with depressive symptoms with and without SI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 287 undergraduate college students with substantial depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] total score >13) with and without SI were compared across psychiatric and functional outcome variables. Independent sample t tests were conducted for each outcome variable using the suicide item of the BDI as a dichotomous (ie, zero vs nonzero score) grouping variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to students with substantial depressive symptoms without SI, those with SI were more symptomatic overall, having significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and anxiety. However, contrary to our expectations, nonsuicidal and suicidal students did not differ on measures of everyday functioning (ie, cognitive and physical functioning and grade point average).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that SI among college students is associated with increased subjective distress but may not adversely impact physical or cognitive functioning or academic performance.
authors: Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA. mnyer@partners.org
authors: Maren
authors: M
authors: Nyer
authors: Daphne J
authors: DJ
authors: Holt
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Pedrelli
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Fava
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Ameral
authors: Clair F
authors: CF
authors: Cassiello
authors: Matthew K
authors: MK
authors: Nock
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Ross
authors: Dori
authors: D
authors: Hutchinson
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Farabaugh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004521:Educational Measurement; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011587:Psychology, Comparative / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D055815:Young Adult
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