ABSTRACT
The aim of the current study was to assess the influence of the first wave of COVID-19 (March- June 2020) on individuals with depression and anxiety, evaluating the impact of different groups of factors in a complex (holistic) manner. Material(s) and Method(s): The study is cross-sectional, including outpatients with depressive and anxiety disorders in remission (n = 60), outpatients in relapse (n = 65), a group of healthy controls (n = 30), and a control group with relatives of the patients with depression and anxiety (n = 30) for the period July-October 2020. Socio-demographic factors, the presence of somatic comorbidity and risk factors related to it, and the need for medical care during the first COVID wave were analyzed. Result(s): Patients with deteriorated anxiety disorders have a significantly lower educational status (p < 0.001) in comparison to the other groups. Individuals with deteriorated major depressive disorder and controls-relatives have significantly more somatic comorbidity compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Individuals with anxiety disorders do not differ from healthy controls on this measure. Visits to medical specialists in those with worsening depression increased during the analyzed period but were comparable to the control groups. In persons with anxiety - worsened or in remission, there is a significant increase in this indicator compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion(s): In the conditions of the first COVIDwave, individuals with worsened depression, as well as relatives of anxious and depressed patients have significantly more somatic problems compared to healthy controls. However, individuals with anxiety but not depression seek significantly more healthcare consultations, despite the isolation. The holistic approach implies a complex assessment of somatic and mental comorbidity and the need for additional knowledge and resources in the service of persons with anxiety and depression, although there is relatively easy access to consultation care in our country.Copyright © 2023, Central Medical Library Medical University - Sofia. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study aimed at identifying the influence of socio-demographic factors on perceived stress during the first and the second "waves" of the COVID-19 pandemic among patients with depression and anxiety in remission compared to controls. Method: The study was designed as case-control, cross-sectional and non-interventional, and included 60 outpatients with depressive and anxiety disorders in remission and 60 controls with or without family history of affective disorder. A self-assessment scale (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS-10) was used to evaluate perceived stress. The remission was objectified by the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI-S 2) and a questionnaire about the socio-demographic features and clinical characteristics of the disorders was completed. Results: By using multiple logistic regression, it was found that the diagnostic category and/or the relevant family history did not predict higher levels of perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic (p > 0.05). Females were associated with higher risk of moderate or high stress (OR=2.613, p=0.017), as well as those working from home during the pandemic (OR=4.00, p=0.026). Conclusions: Addressing the COVID-19 effects on mental health in a biopsychosocial manner, the study shows the impact of socio-demographic factors such as gender and work environment in times of a psychosocial crisis. The lack of differences in stress perception by the patients in remission and healthy controls implicates the importance of adequate maintenance treatment and easy access to mental health services in times of crisis.
ABSTRACT
The objective of the study is to evaluate the indirect influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the manifestation of anxiety and depression, and the burden of perceived stress among out-patients. Methods: The study is pilot, cross-sectional, non-interventional, and includes out-patients with depressive and anxiety disorder and controls, recruited from July 2020 to October 2020. Self-assessment scales are used for the evaluation of anxiety and depression (HADS), perceived stress (PSS-10) and loneliness (UCLA-LS3). The severity of the illness is assessed by the scale for clinical global impression (CGI-S). Results: The study includes 110 individuals, forming the following groups: exacerbated anxiety disorder (n = 23), anxiety disorder in remission (n = 17), exacerbated depressive disorder (n = 18), depressive disorder in remission (n = 24), and healthy controls (n = 28). The patients with exacerbated depression have the highest results on scales HADS-А ( X = 12.39 ± 4.16);HADS-D ( X = 10.39 ± 4.07);PSS-10 ( X = 24,72 ± 3,68);UCLA-LS3 ( X = 5.78 ± 1.86), which differs them significantly (р < 0,05) from the control group, from the groups in remission, and from the patients with exacerbated anxiety according to HADS-D ( X = 6,00 ± 4,54). The perceived stress in the control group, assessed by PSS-10 ( X = 16,43 ± 4,07), differs significantly only from the group of patients with exacerbated depression (р < 0,05). In terms of this scale, the rest of the groups do not differ significantly from the controls. The loneliness, assessed by UCLA-LS3, is significantly more pronounced (р < 0,05) in the groups of exacerbated anxiety and depression compared with patients in remission and the control group, which do not differ significantly from each other. Conclusions: The exacerbation of anxiety and depressive disorders during the time of COVID-19 pandemic depends on complex factors, but the stability of the remission is an important protective concerning perceived stress and loneliness in these patients. Patients with exacerbated depression demonstrate the highest level of stress. © 2021, Bulgarian Psychiatric Association (BPA). All rights reserved.