The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and exposure to other potentially traumatic events up to old age.

We investigated whether the impact of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) on trauma-related symptoms changes across the transitional adult lifespan (i.e., 16-100 years old) and if this association differs for self-reported COVID-19-related PTEs compared to other PTEs. A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 7,034 participants from 88 countries between late April and October 2020. Participants completed the Global Psychotrauma Screen (GPS), a self-report questionnaire assessing trauma-related symptoms. Data were analyzed using linear and logistic regression analyses and general linear models. We found that older age was associated with lower GPS total symptom scores, B = -0.02, p < .001; this association remained significant but was substantially weaker for self-reported COVID-19-related PTEs compared to other PTEs, B = 0.02, p = .009. The results suggest an association between older age and lower ratings of trauma-related symptoms on the GPS, indicating a blunted symptom presentation. This age-related trend was smaller for self-reported COVID-19-related PTEs compared to other PTEs, reflecting the relatively higher impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults.

Cognitive-attentional syndrome - The psychometric properties of the CAS-1 and multi-measure CAS-based clinical diagnosis.

The Cognitive-attentional Syndrome Questionnaire (CAS-1) is a short self-descriptive measure developed to provide information regarding the severity of cognitive-attentional syndrome, a key construct in metacognitive therapy. The three presented studies explore the psychometric properties of the CAS-1. Study 1 was based on a community sample (N = 1225) and explored the factor structure of the CAS-1, its relations with measures of rumination and metacognitive beliefs, and its demographic structure. Study 2, performed on an internet-based sample (N = 602), explored relations of the CAS-1 with measures of rumination, psychopathology, and quality of life. This study also dealt with the validity of the CAS-1. Study 3 was conducted on participants selected from study 1 (n = 98), based on the results of the CAS-1 and other measures. It explored the predictive validity of the questionnaire's diagnosis through ascertaining clinical diagnoses. All three studies confirm the reliability of the CAS-1. Its validity was confirmed by significant associations with measures of rumination, metacognitive beliefs, psychopathology, and quality of life. Two-factor and four-factor structures of the CAS-1 were confirmed, with the two-factor model better fitting the data. The results obtained show that the CAS-1 has good psychometric properties; its current form is deemed most acceptable for clinical use and we advise use of combined measures of CAS or development of a more expanded measure of CAS for research purposes.

Childhood neglect: exploring a short questionnaire in Poland and Germany.

BACKGROUND: Estimates about childhood abuse and neglect in various countries of the world indicate that cases of neglect outnumber cases of abuse by far. However, childhood neglect itself constitutes a neglected domain in psychological and medical research; far more articles have been published about abuse. SAMPLING AND METHODS: A ten-item questionnaire assessing childhood neglect was administered to two surveys in Poland (n = 508) and Germany (n = 500) via the internet. RESULTS: Internal consistency was high in both countries, i.e. Cronbach's α was 0.82 in Poland and 0.88 in Germany. No distinction could be made between physical and emotional neglect. Values for neglect were similar for Polish and German men, but German women reported more neglect than Polish women. CONCLUSIONS: The Neglect Questionnaire is suitable for research in both Poland and Germany.

[Validation of the Polish version of the symptom checklist-27-plus questionnaire]. / Walidacja polskiej wersji kwestionariusza the symptom checklist-27-plus.

AIM: The goal of this research is to evaluate the psychometric qualities of the Polish version of the SCL-27-plus questionnaire in terms of its five factor structure, internal consistency and theoretical accuracy. METHOD: A total of 1.350 persons of which 62% were males, participated in the study. 651 persons were tested with a paper version, 699 subjects received an electronic version of the questionnaire. 336 (tested with the paper version) were patients with diagnosed psychiatric disorders. Paper version participants also filled out the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis validated the five factor structure of SCL-27-plus when some errors terms within subscales are allowed to correlate (Depending on the sample: 1.64 < or = chi2/df < or = 2.46; 0.05 < or = RMSEA < or = 0.06; 0.91 < or = CFI < or = 0.95). Cronbach's Alpha reliability measures for the Global Severity Index was 0.90 to 0.92 and for the particular subscales 0.71 to 0.88. The GSI and symptom subscales for SCL-27-plus correlated with their equivalences in the GHQ-28 moderately to highly (r = 0.38 to 0.68). Strong differences occurred between the "clinical" and "non-clinical" groups in the levels of general and specific symptoms (Cohen's d from 0.42 to 1.15). CONCLUSIONS: The Polish version of the SCL-27-plus questionnaire demonstrates good psychometric qualities. It can be used to measure the general intensity of psychopathological impairment as well as the specific subscales.

A longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple stressors that may lead to symptoms of adjustment disorder.Objective: We longitudinally examined relationships between risk and protective factors, pandemic-related stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as whether these relationships differed by the time of assessment.Method: The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) ADJUST Study included N = 15,169 participants aged 18 years and above. Participants from 11 European countries were recruited and screened three times at 6-month intervals from June 2020 to January 2022. Associations between risk and protective factors (e.g. gender), stressors (e.g. fear of infection), and symptoms of adjustment disorder (AjD, ADNM-8) and their interaction with time of assessment were examined using mixed linear regression.Results: The following predictors were significantly associated with higher AjD symptom levels: female or diverse gender; older age; pandemic-related news consumption >30 min a day; a current or previous mental health disorder; trauma exposure before or during the pandemic; a good, satisfactory or poor health status (vs. very good); burden related to governmental crisis management and communication; fear of infection; restricted social contact; work-related problems; restricted activity; and difficult housing conditions. The following predictors were associated with lower AjD levels: self-employment or retirement; working in healthcare; and face-to-face contact ≥ once a week with loved ones or friends. The effects of the following predictors on AjD symptoms differed by the time of assessment in the course of the pandemic: a current or previous mental disorder; burden related to governmental crisis management; income reduction; and a current trauma exposure.Conclusions: We identified risk factors and stressors predicting AjD symptom levels at different stages of the pandemic. For some predictors, the effects on mental health may change at different stages of a pandemic.

We longitudinally examined predictors of symptoms of adjustment disorder in 15,563 adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.We found stressors, risk, and protective factors predicting adjustment disorder symptom levels at different stages of the pandemic.For some predictors, the effects appear to change in different phases of a pandemic.

Did Cognitive Attentional Syndrome Symptoms Predict Stress- and Trauma-Related Symptoms in the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic? Results from a Two-Wave Study on a Sample of Polish Internet Users.

BACKGROUND: According to metacognitive theory, Cognitive Attentional Syndrome (CAS) is a transdiagnostic factor and a main mechanism of psychopathology maintenance. The main goal of this study is to examine whether CAS predicted stress- and trauma-related symptomatology in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic and three months later. METHODS: Initially, 1792 participants were recruited online via social media; the data were collected at two time points. The measures included the Cognitive Attentional Syndrome Questionnaire, the Adjustment Disorder-New Module 20, the International Trauma Questionnaire, and additional measures. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling was conducted in order to determine the relations between the reported stressors, CAS, and symptomatology. At both time points, CAS was a significant mediator between the stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder. Despite the decrease in the intensity of adjustment disorder symptoms between waves, it was a significant predictor of other psychopathologies at both time points, except for traumatic stress. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm the assumption that CAS is a transdiagnostic factor of psychopathology and has a mediating role in the relationship between stressors and adjustment disorder and co-occurring symptomatology. The effect was particularly significant in the initial phase of the pandemic, which was highly stressful for many people.

Exposure to self-reported traumatic events and probable PTSD in a national sample of Poles: Why does Poland's PTSD prevalence differ from other national estimates?

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of studies on trauma exposure and PTSD prevalence in Poland on representative samples. Available data from studies on convenient samples show very high rates of probable PTSD compared with relevant estimates in other countries. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to measure the exposure to self-report traumatic events (PTEs) and to estimate the current rate of prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in accordance with DSM-5 criteria in a population-based sample of Poles. Additionally, the link between PTSD intensity and level of life satisfaction was investigated. METHOD: A representative sample of 1,598 adult Poles was recruited. Probable PTSD was assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was also used. RESULTS: The findings showed that 60.3% of Poles had experienced at least one PTE and 31.1% of those who had been exposed to trauma reported symptoms of PTSD. At the level of the entire sample, the obtained rate for probable PTSD was 18.8%. The traumatic events with the highest probabilities of PTSD symptoms were child abuse and sexual assault. Levels of life satisfaction were significantly lower in the group of participants with probable PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the current prevalence of probable PTSD in Poland is intriguingly high relative to rates reported in comparable representative samples from other countries across the world. Possible mechanisms are discussed, including a lack of social acknowledgement of WWII and other traumas as well as poor access to trauma-focused care. We hope that this research may inspire more studies investigating cross-national differences in PTSD and trauma exposure.

Long-lasting effects of World War II trauma on PTSD symptoms and embodiment levels in a national sample of Poles.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the long-lasting influences of World War II (WWII) trauma in a national sample of Poles, based on Danieli's (1998) survivors' post-trauma adaptational styles (fighter, numb, victim) and their link with current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and embodiment level among participants. We also sought to investigate whether the level of knowledge about WWII trauma among ancestors could moderate that association. The study was conducted among a representative sample of 1598 adult Poles obtained from an external company. Participants filled out the Danieli Inventory of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma, the knowledge about traumatic World War II experiences in the family questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale-5, and the Experience of Embodiment Scale. We observed a positive relationship between all survivors' post-trauma adaptational styles and current levels of PTSD symptoms among participants. In addition, PTSD level mediated the relationships between those adaptational styles and embodiment intensity; that mediation was additionally moderated by a lack of knowledge about WWII trauma among ancestors in our participants. Our study adds to the literature on intergenerational trauma by highlighting the importance of evaluating embodiment in understanding the mechanisms of trauma transmission. Furthermore, it highlights the moderating effect of knowledge of family history in this mechanism and the need to share family histories with subsequent generations.

Psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) in 9230 adults across seven European countries: Findings from the ESTSS ADJUST study.

BACKGROUND: The four-item Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) is a widely used screening measure for depression and anxiety. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to test factor structure and measurement invariance in an adult sample of the general population across seven European countries. METHOD: A total sample of 9230 adults, 71.3 % female, Mage = 44.35 (SD = 14.11) from seven countries (Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, and Sweden) participated in the study. We applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the factor structure and measurement invariance testing to evaluate measurement equivalence across countries, gender, and age groups. RESULTS: The CFA yielded that a two-factor PHQ-4 model with separate depression and anxiety factors had the best fit. Partial scalar measurement invariance was established across different groups based on gender, age, and country. CONCLUSIONS: The PHQ-4 is a valid and reliable measure that can be applied to screen for depression and anxiety in the general population. LIMITATIONS: The limitation of the study includes the sampling, which resulted in the sample structure with the majority of females, predominantly of high education and from urban communities.

Neural functional connectivity during rumination in individuals with adverse childhood experiences.

Background: Childhood adversity has been associated with greater risk of developing psychopathology, altered processing of emotional stimuli, and changes in neural functioning. Although the neural correlates of rumination have been previously described, little is known about how adverse childhood experiences are related to brain functioning during rumination. Objective: This study explored differences in neural functional connectivity between participants with and without histories of childhood adversity, controlling for tendency to ruminate, during resting-state and induction of rumination. Method: A total of 86 adults (51 women) took part. Based on a diagnostic clinical interview, participants were divided into groups with and without adverse childhood experiences. All participants underwent resting-state imaging and a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan where they performed a rumination induction task. Results: Individuals with childhood adversities differed from those without adverse experiences in seed-based functional connectivity from right angular gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus during the rumination task. There were also group differences during resting-state in seed-based functional connectivity from the right angular gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and left superior frontal gyrus. Conclusions: Childhood adversity is associated with altered brain functioning during rumination and resting-state, even after controlling for tendency to ruminate. Our results shed light on the consequences of early adversity. People who experienced childhood adversities differ from those with no adverse experiences in brain functional connectivity when engaged in negative repetitive self-referential thinking.

Antecedentes: La adversidad en la infancia se ha asociado con un mayor riesgo de desarrollar psicopatología, alteración del procesamiento de estímulos emocionales y cambios en el funcionamiento neuronal. Aunque los correlatos neuronales de la rumiación se han descrito previamente, se sabe poco acerca de cómo las experiencias adversas en la infancia se relacionan con el funcionamiento del cerebro durante la rumiación.Objetivo: Este estudio exploró las diferencias en la conectividad neuro funcional entre participantes con y sin antecedentes de adversidad en la infancia, controlando la tendencia a rumiar, durante el estado de reposo y la inducción de la rumiación.Método: Participaron un total de 86 adultos (51 mujeres). Basado en una entrevista clínica de diagnóstico, los participantes se dividieron en grupos con y sin experiencias adversas en infancia. Todos los participantes se sometieron a imágenes en estado de reposo y a una resonancia magnética funcional en la que realizaron una tarea de inducción de la rumiación.Resultados: Los individuos con adversidades en la infancia diferían de aquellos sin experiencias adversas en la conectividad funcional basada en semillas de la circunvolución angular derecha y la circunvolución frontal superior izquierda durante la tarea de rumiación. También hubo diferencias de grupo durante el estado de reposo en la conectividad funcional basada en semillas de la circunvolución angular derecha, la circunvolución temporal media izquierda y la circunvolución frontal superior izquierda.Conclusiones: La adversidad en la infancia se asocia con un funcionamiento cerebral alterado durante la rumiación y el estado de reposo, incluso después de controlar la tendencia a rumiar. Nuestros resultados aclaran las consecuencias de la adversidad temprana. Las personas que experimentaron adversidades en la infancia difieren de aquellas que no tuvieron experiencias adversas en la conectividad funcional del cerebro cuando se dedican al pensamiento autorreferencial repetitivo negativo.

Brain structural correlates of cognitive-attentional syndrome - a Voxel-Based Morphometry Study.

Cognitive-attentional syndrome (CAS) is in the self-regulatory executive function model a set of cognitive and behavioural strategies aimed at regulating cognition and emotion originating from maladaptive metacognitive beliefs. Investigating the brain structure of people with high levels of CAS enables a better understanding of the syndrome and bridging between the metacognitive model of psychopathology and previous results on structural abnormalities in various psychological disorders. Participants with high (n=40) and low levels of CAS (n=44) underwent structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging session. Voxel-Based Morphometry analytical approach was used to compute grey matter volume (GMV) differences between the groups. The group with a high level of CAS had lower GMV in the dorsal part of the anterior cingulate cortex. Our results are in line with the self-regulatory executive function model of psychopathology, showing a link between CAS and lowered GMV in the brain region associated with the regulation of cognition and emotion. They are also in agreement with meta-analytical results on structural correlates of various psychological disorders.

Factors Associated With Suicide Ideation in Lithuania and Poland Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on many risk and protective factors associated with suicide. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify pandemic-related factors associated with suicidal ideation in the two European countries, Lithuania and Poland, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The sample comprised 2,459 participants in both countries; 57.2% of the respondents were female. The Mage of the participants was 43.45 years (SD = 15.91). Pandemic-related stressors and adjustment problems were measured to assess associations with suicidal ideation. Results: High levels of adjustment problems, loneliness, and burden due to staying at home more during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly associated with suicide ideation in both Lithuania and Poland. Limitations: This was a cross-sectional online study with different recruitment approaches in the two countries. Conclusion: Adjustment problems, loneliness, and stressors related to staying at home more could be important targets for suicide prevention amid the pandemic.

You can't do anything about it, but you can make the best of it: a qualitative analysis of pandemic-related experiences in six European countries.

Background: The complex system of stressors related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the global population, provoking a broad range of psychological reactions. Although numerous studies have investigated the mental health impact of COVID-19, qualitative research and cross-country comparisons are still rare. Objective: This qualitative study aimed to explore self-perceived challenges and opportunities related to COVID-19 across six European countries. The overall objective was to provide a differentiated picture of individual subjective experiences in the early stages of the pandemic. Method: The present study included 7309 participants from Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Poland, and Portugal. We performed qualitative content analysis according to Mayring analyse open-ended questions regarding stressful events, positive and negative aspects of the pandemic, and recommendations to cope with the pandemic situation. MAXQDA software was used for data management and analysis. Results: Participants' accounts were moderately consistent across the countries. The most prominent themes regarding stressful and negative pandemic aspects included: Restrictions and changes in daily life, Emotional distress, and Work and finances. Answers about positive pandemic consequences were mainly centred around the themes Reflection and growth, Opportunity for meaningful/enjoyable activities, and Benefits on interpersonal level. Key themes identified from participants' recommendations to cope with the pandemic included Beneficial behavioural adjustment, Beneficial cognitive-emotional strategies, and Social support. Conclusions: Participants experienced various challenges, but also shared several positive pandemic consequences and recommendations to cope with the pandemic. These first-hand data could inform mental health practices to promote well-being during COVID-19 and similar global challenges in the participating countries and possibly beyond. HIGHLIGHTS: We examined COVID-19-related experiences in 7309 adults from six European countries.Besides challenges, participants identified many positive pandemic consequences.Participants' recommendations to cope with COVID-19 included behavioural and cognitive-emotional strategies.

Risk and protective factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic - findings from a pan-European study.

HIGHLIGHTS: N = 4,607 trauma-exposed adult participants were recruited from the general population during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.The prevalence for probable posttraumatic stress disorder was 17.7%.We identified risk factors (e.g. poor health condition) and protective factors (e.g. social contact) associated with posttraumatic stress disorder.

A short screening instrument for mental health problems: the symptom checklist-27 (SCL-27) in Poland and Germany.

OBJECTIVE: The symptom checklist SCL-27 is a short, multidimensional screening instrument for mental health problems. It contains six scales: depressive, dysthymic, vegetative, agoraphobic and sociophobic symptoms; symptoms of mistrust; and a global severity index (GSI-27). METHODS: A survey of two student samples from Poland and Germany (n ∼ 400) is presented. RESULTS: Most scales of the SCL-27 showed good to satisfactory reliability (i.e. Cronbach's α > 0.70). Some items displayed different characteristics in students than in non-student samples. These discrepancies can be explained partly by the particular situation students face and partly by some country-specific or language-specific aspects of the measuring instrument. Differences between Polish and German students were marginal at best; in general, the Polish students tended to assent more easily to the items of the SCL-27 than did the German students. CONCLUSIONS: The SCL-27 is suitable for international comparisons. In both, Germany and Poland, students display a characteristic response pattern that differs from those of other samples. It can be applied as a separate instrument or for reanalysis of data collected with the SCL-90_R.

[Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30]. / Wlasciwosci psychometryczne polskiej wersji The Metacognitions Questionnaire-30.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine basic psychometric properties as well as to confirm the five-factor structure of the Polish version ofthe Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), a short instrument to measure various aspects of maladaptive metacognitions. METHOD: The sample consisted of 315 individuals (239 females and 76 males). Fourty-five of the participants were examined twice within the test-retest procedure. Among questionnaires used in the study were MCQ-30, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and four subscales chosen from the Neurotic Personality Questionnaire (KON-2006). RESULTS: Cronbach alphas, coefficients ofreliability, reached acceptable values (0.70-0.87). Correlation coefficient (Pearson's r) between two separate administrations ofMCQ-30 was high (0.72). Correlation coefficients between results of the MCQ-30 and results of the STAI and the part of KON-2006 were statistically significant and positive (018-064). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the five-factor structure of the questionnaire (the model was modified, and the method of maximum likelihood along with bootstrap procedure was used; goodness-of-fit indices were e.g. Chi2 [391] = 764.50 with p < 0.001, Chi2/df = 1.95, GFI = 0.858, RMSEA = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study show generally good psychometric properties of the Polish version of the metacognitions questionnaire. Polish version of the MCQ-30 seems to be a measure comparable with the original version.

Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the desire thinking questionnaire in a sample of Internet game players.

The Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) is the main instrument used to measure desire thinking, which is the voluntary cognitive elaboration of a desired target on a verbal or imaginal level. Research has shown that this pattern of thinking occurs in different addictive behaviors. This study aimed to adapt the DTQ for use in research on gaming behavior (DTQ-G) and to validate the Polish version of the DTQ-G in a sample of Internet game players. A sample of 635 gamers were examined via the internet. The psychometric analyses of the DTQ-G yielded good results. The questionnaire proved to be a reliable tool for measuring desire thinking related to gaming. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the two-factor solution, with both factors (imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration) achieving good internal consistency. The Polish version of the DTQ-G has good psychometric properties and can be considered comparable to the original version.

Polish Validation of the Internet Gaming Disorder-20 (IGD-20) Test. / Badanie walidacyjne polskiej wersji kwestionariusza Zaburzenie Grania w Internecie-20 (Internet Gaming Disorder-20, IGD-20).

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to validate the Polish version of the Internet Gaming Disorder-20 (IGD-20) Test that is consistent with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. METHODS: A total of 652 game players took part in the validation study. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to check the scale structure. Questionnaires measuring symptoms of psychopathology and desire thinking were used to estimate construct validity of the IGD-20. The analysis also considered the game genres most frequently chosen by players. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a5-factor structure of the Polish version of IGD-20 questionnaire, which is consistent with previous findings in other language versions. Fit indices were evaluated collectively, indicating that the model has agood fit: χ2(142)=690.059; p <0.001; RMSEA=0.077 (90% CI: 0.071-0.083); CFI =0.950; TLI=0.940; SMRR =0.053. Internal consistency is high (McDonald's ω =0.93). Analysis also showed significant correlations between problem gaming, symptoms of psychopathology, and desire thinking. Participants reported that they spent the least amount of time playing educational games, compared to other game genres; the frequency of educational games selection negatively correlated with the intensity of problematic gaming symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The validation study of the Polish version of the IGD-20 questionnaire has confirmed the good psychometric properties of the tool and its internal structure. Further research should focus on examination of gender differences and psychometric properties in the clinical sample of players.

Adjustment disorder, traumatic stress, depression and anxiety in Poland during an early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a variety of stressors. Preliminary research has demonstrated that general public are experiencing a range of psychological problems, including stress-related disturbances. However, to date, there is not much research on the prevalence of adjustment disorder during the current pandemic. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of symptoms of adjustment disorder compared to posttraumatic symptoms, depression and generalized anxiety in a large sample of adult Poles, in the first phase of the current pandemic. Method: Self-report data from a web-based sample (N = 1,742) was collected between March 25 and April 27, just after the introduction of nationwide quarantine measures in Poland. Results: The current COVID-19 pandemic was a highly stressful event for 75% of participants and the strongest predictor of adjustment disorder. Increased symptoms of adjustment disorder were reported by 49%, and they were associated with female gender and not having a full-time job. However, after exclusion of co-occurring symptomatology, 14% of the sample were finally qualified as meeting diagnostic criteria of adjustment disorder. A substantial proportion of the sample screened also positive for generalized anxiety (44%) and depression (26%); the rate for presumptive PTSD diagnosis was 2.4%. Conclusions: High rates of negative mental health outcomes were found in the Polish population in the first weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures. They indicate the intense current stress-related symptoms in the early phase of the pandemic and warrant further monitoring on population's mental health.

Antecedentes: La actual pandemia de COVID-19 está asociada con una variedad de estresores. Investigaciones preliminares han demostrado que la población general está experimentando una variedad de problemas psicológicos, incluyendo trastornos relacionados con el estrés. Sin embargo, hasta la fecha no hay mucha investigación acerca de la prevalencia de trastornos de adaptación durante la actual pandemia.Objetivos: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la prevalencia y severidad de los síntomas del trastorno adaptativo comparado con los síntomas postraumáticos, depresión y ansiedad generalizada en una gran muestra de adultos polacos, en la primera fase de la actual pandemia.Método: Se recolectó información auto-reportada de una muestra basada en la web (N=1.742) entre el 25 de marzo y el 27 de Abril, justo después de la introducción de medidas de cuarentena a nivel nacional en Polonia.Resultados: La pandemia actual de COVID-19 fue un evento altamente estresante para el 75% de los participantes y el predictor más poderoso de trastorno de adaptación. 49% informó un aumento de síntomas de trastorno de adaptación, y se asociaron con género femenino y no tener trabajo de tiempo completo. Sin embargo, después de la exclusión de la sintomatología concurrente, 14% de la muestra cumplía los criterios para diagnóstico de trastorno de adaptación. Una proporción importante de la muestra tambien resultó positiva para ansiedad generalizada (44%) y depresión (26%): la tasa de diagnóstico presuntivo de TEPT fue de 2,4%.Conclusiones: Se encontraron altas tasas de consecuencias negativas de salud mental en la población Polaca en las primeras semanas de pandemia y medidas de confinamiento por COVID-19. Indican los intensos síntomas actuales relacionados con el estrés en la fase inicial de la pandemia y justifican un mayor seguimiento de la salud mental de la población.

Prevalence of adjustment disorder in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Purpose: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, many new stressors have arisen, which is associated with an increased risk of mental disorders. The purpose of this article is to assess the prevalence of adjustment disorder and symptoms of anxiety and depression in the Polish population, on the basis of two studies conducted during the pandemic. Methods: Two online survey studies were conducted at different time points: the first in March 2020 on a N = 1742 sample, the second in June 2020, on the sample of N = 567. In both cases, the same self-description questionnaires were used to measure adjustment disorder, depression and generalized anxiety. Results: In Study I, 75% of participants considered the COVID-19 pandemic to be highly stressful and 43% declared they met the criteria for adjustment disorder. When anxiety and depression were excluded 8.4% of participants met the criteria. On the other hand, in Study II, the criteria for this disorder (without the exclusion of other disorders) were met by 52%. In both studies, significant positive correlations were observed between the symptoms of adjustment disorder and those of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The research provides important data on the mental health of Poles during the pandemic. The proportion of people who have potentially met the criteria for adjustment disorder, as well as for depression and anxiety, seems very high. It is advisable to continue monitoring the occurrence of these disorders, depending on developments in the changing context of the pandemic.