Objective: This study examined how profiles of alcohol use and symptoms of common mental health disorders (depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) influenced the perceived need for and actual seeking of different types of treatment (for alcohol versus psychological distress) in college student drinkers.
Participants: Undergraduate students (n = 164) were assessed between September 2009 and August 2015.
Methods: We classified students into different symptom profiles using model-based clustering and compared these profiles on a variety of variables.
Results: The cluster model yielded three profiles: Low Risk (n = 66), Concomitant (n = 35), and Heavy Drinking (n = 63). Students in these profiles significantly differed in alcohol consumption, alcohol-related cognitions and problems, and perceptions of need and prior engagement in treatment.
Conclusion: A variety of strategies can be used to engage students experiencing heavy drinking and/or mental health problems into treatment on campus.
Keywords: Alcohol; PTSD; college students; depression; treatment seeking.