'It's the economy, stupid': Lessons of a longitudinal study of depression in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: On March 20, 2020, the Argentine Ministry of Health imposed a mandatory quarantine, which still persists. AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the variation in the prevalence of depression since the beginning of the quarantine and the evolution of risk factors, with special emphasis on the population's concerns. METHODS: A longitudinal study was carried out using a digital questionnaire disseminated in social networks. The first stage (T1) was carried out from March 29 to April 12 and the second stage (T2) from May 23 to June 12, 2020. The prevalence of depression was measured using the 9-item Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate/severe depression increased from 24.3% in T1 to 47.8% in T2 (p: 0.000). Risk factors increased significantly: age 18-27, female, primary and secondary school, smoking and having a poor sleep quality (p: 0.000). The concerns about 'a family member getting sick' (OR: 1.28; CI: 1.04-1.58; p: 0.016), 'changes at work' (OR: 2.24; CI: 1.79-2.81; p: 0.000), 'running out of money' (OR: 1.43; CI: 1.20-1.71; p: 0.000) and 'being unemployed' (OR: 2.99; CI: 2.55-3.52; p: 0.000) were risk factors for depression. On the other hand, the concern about 'getting the virus' (OR: 0.73; CI: 0.61-0.87; p: 0.001) was not a risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: The extended quarantine in Argentina is associated with an increase in the prevalence of depression; the high impact of economic and social concerns on mental health must be considered in order to avoid long-term effects.

Early indicators and risk factors associated with mental health problems during COVID-19 quarantine: Is there a relationship with the number of confirmed cases and deaths?

BACKGROUND: On March 20 2020, the Argentine Ministry of Health enforced a mandatory quarantine throughout the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. AIMS: The object of this study is to determine the initial impact on mental health of Argentine population, by measuring the prevalence of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and self-perceived stress and by determining the associated risk factors, and to analyze that impact in relation to the number of confirmed cases and deaths. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted through a digital questionnaire, which was completed by 1,985 respondents between March 29 and April 12. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia was measured with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7), the 9-Item Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. RESULTS: The 62.4% of the surveyed population reported signs of psychological distress. It was found that being a woman, being 18 to 27 years old, living with family members or a partner, smoking, and having a poor sleep quality were the significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: Despite the low number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths at that time, a strong impact on mental health indicators was revealed. The authors of this study recommend the monitoring of the population at risk over time and early interventions in order to avoid long-lasting mental health problems.