AUTHOR=Li Jia , Zhang Yaru , Siu Man Chan Bella , Tan Sun Nee , Lu Jianping , Luo Xuerong , Shen Yanmei , Zhang Xiang Yang 

TITLE=Associations between anxiety, depression, and risk of suicidal behaviors in Chinese medical college students

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1012298

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1012298

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background：Previous studies have established a strong association between depression and suicidal behaviors, yet the relationship between anxiety and suicidal behaviors remains unclear. This study examines whether anxiety and depression are independent risk factors for suicidal behaviors in medical college students, and further, whether anxiety may increase the greater risk of suicidal behaviors in participants with depression. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 4882 medical students. Demographic information, anxiety and depression data were collected using online questionnaires or through a widely used social media app named WeChat. Results: Anxiety and depression were independent risk factors for suicidal behaviors, levels of risk correlated positively with the severity of both anxiety and depressive symptoms. A dose-response relationship was identified between severity of anxiety and risk of suicidal behavior, as well as severity of depression and suicidal behaviors. Furthermore, anxiety increased the risk of suicidal behaviors in participants with depression, with a dose-response relationship between severity of anxiety symptoms and risk of suicidal behavior. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of screening for anxiety and depressive symptoms in medical college students as well as reducing anxiety in addition to depressive symptoms in treatment. This study provides valuable data as reference for clinicians for suicide risk assessments.