Mental health issues among college students: who gets referred for psychopharmacology evaluation?
OBJECTIVE
To describe diagnostic and psychotropic medication prescription characteristics among college students referred by college counseling centers for psychopharmacologic evaluation.


PARTICIPANTS
Participants were 540 college students referred by 6 college counseling centers in Massachusetts between November 2005 and May 2011.


METHODS
Students completed self-report measures of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and attempts, and substance use. Information regarding DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) diagnosis, previous history of medication prescription, and current psychotropic medication(s) prescribed by the consulting psychiatrist was obtained from medical records.


RESULTS
Depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were the most common psychiatric problems identified in students. Half of these students had been prescribed mediation prior to evaluation. Antidepressant medication was the most frequently prescribed medication. A large proportion of students reported previous thoughts of suicide, and 12% had made at least 1 suicide attempt.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression, anxiety, and ADHD are common among students referred by college counseling centers for medication evaluation and treatment.
['Kirsch|Daniel J|DJ|', 'Doerfler|Leonard A|LA|', 'Truong|Debbie|D|']
D000293:Adolescent D001007:Anxiety D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008404:Massachusetts D008603:Mental Health D008605:Mental Health Services D055553:Prescription Drugs D011600:Psychopharmacology D011619:Psychotropic Drugs D057566:Self Report D013334:Students D013405:Suicide D014495:Universities D055815:Young Adult
mental health counseling alcohol drugs