title: Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence Predict Suicide Ideation Among Alaskan Undergraduates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has demonstrated an association between alcohol-related problems and suicidal ideation (SI).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study evaluated, simultaneously, alcohol consequences and symptoms of alcohol dependence as predictors of SI after adjusting for depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 298 Alaskan undergraduates completed survey measures, including the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire, the Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory - II. The association between alcohol problems and SI status was evaluated using sequential logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms of alcohol dependence (OR = 1.88, p < .05), but not alcohol-related consequences (OR = 1.01, p = .95), emerged as an independent predictor of SI status above and beyond depressive symptoms (OR = 2.39, p < .001) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.08, p = .39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol dependence symptoms represented a unique risk for SI relative to alcohol-related consequences and alcohol consumption. Future research should examine the causal mechanism behind the relationship between alcohol dependence and suicidality among university students. Assessing the presence of dependence symptoms may improve the accuracy of identifying students at risk of SI.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: DeCou
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
authors.forename: Monica C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Skewes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alaskan undergraduates; alcohol problems; suicidal ideation