Correlates of Irritability in College Students With Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder associated with significant personal and societal burden. There is accumulating evidence for the presence of a subtype of depression characterized by the presence of irritability that is associated with increased morbidity, risk for suicidal ideation, and functional impairments in adults. Little is known about the features of depressive symptoms with and without irritability among young adults in college. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the presentation of college students with depressive symptoms and irritability. Two-hundred eighty-seven undergraduate college students with depressive symptoms with and without irritability were compared across several psychiatric and functional outcome variables. Independent samples t-tests or logistic regressions were conducted for each outcome variable using the irritability item of the Beck Depression Inventory as a dichotomous grouping variable. Analyses were conducted separately for the men and the women. Both male and female students with depressive symptoms and severe irritability reported a greater severity of depressive symptoms compared with their peers with no or mild irritability. In the women, the presence of irritability was associated with greater symptoms of anxiety, whereas in the men, it was associated with increased likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, including compulsive use of alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription drugs. The male and female college students with depressive symptoms with and without irritability did not differ on severity of suicidal ideation, hopelessness, or cognitive functioning. The findings from this study suggest that depressive symptoms and irritability may characterize a subtype of college students who have a greater symptom burden and with the potential need for more aggressive and prompt treatment.

Factors associated with suicidal ideation among university students

“…A similar study with 101 university students of Massachusetts/USA, despite being a developed country, found that 6.6% (n = 19) fell into the group of low per capita income of the family 15 . Also, a study performed in a public university of São Paulo, encountered different findings in its population in relation to those evidenced in this study, with 53.1% of the students surveyed belonging to economic class A 19 .…”

“…It should be noted that even though depressive symptoms have been described as a factor associated with suicidal ideation, there can be no affirmation of a possible cause and effect relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, as many people with depressive symptoms do not necessarily wish to end their lives 15 .…”

“…Therefore, among university students, the different possible factors associated with suicidal ideation may be present at an unusual time of life when many changes are taking place, which include challenges of the personal, social and academic development process that requires maturity and autonomy to take decisions considering the strict determinations of the academic environment 11 , 14 - 15 .…”

“…The international literature has produced some information about suicidal ideation directed toward this population 1 , 6 , 11 , 14 - 15 , however, there is a lack of national studies on this subject in the university setting, a situation that reinforces the need for studies with this population. …”

Different pathways explain alcohol-related problems in female and male college students

“…Previously, we had reported a higher association between alcohol problems and irritability among male students with depressive symptoms relative to female students. 47 Finally, many variables have been found to increase ARPs in college students including impulsivity 48 , poor adjustment 17 , influence of beliefs about alcohol's role in the college experience 49 , perception of others’ drinking 50 , and personal goals. 51 These variables may be potential mediators of the association between depressive symptoms and ARPs in male students.…”