title: Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms as a Risk Factor for Suicidality in U.S. College Students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: IlanaHuz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farabaugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009770:Obsessive Behavior; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: College students; Mental health screening; Obsessive-compulsive symptoms; Suicidality