RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to measure anxiety levels and many co-factors that might influence the levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak in southern Saudi Arabia (KSA). A cross-sectional self-reporting survey was conducted to determine the level of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms related to COVID-19 and quarantining. We selected a convenience sample of eligible participants who had been invited online through social media apps. The survey instrument was distributed, and 981 participants responded. Of the total sample, almost 90% were under the age of 40, 75% were women, and 77% had an educational level beyond high school. Just over half were single, with nearly all participants Saudi nationals. The overall prevalence of anxiety related to COVID-19 was 27%. Factors most strongly related to reporting anxiety included having a diagnosis of COVID-19, spending 1- ≥ 3 h focused on COVID-19, having a previous mental illness history, being a current or former smoker, being female, having a previous diagnosis of chronic or respiratory illness, being below age 40, having a limited standard of living, and being a student. Our study reveals how critical it is to emphasize preventive mental health care during pandemics and what factors may make some individuals most vulnerable to anxiety. Further research is recommended to examine GAD levels pre, during and post pandemic. Additional research to explore the long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health is also needed. being a student, and a limited standard of living.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To examined the impacts of chronic pain on depression and poor sleep quality dimensions as well as the mediating function of poor sleep quality in the pathway between chronic pain and depression. METHODS: Between March 2019 and February 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 233 chronic pain patients in 2 tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Of the 233 patients, 36% had depression, while 66.1% had poor sleep quality. Chronic pain intensity and pain disability significantly explained 10.9% of depressed affect variance, 4.9% of anhedonia variance, 17.3% of somatic complaint variance, 4.5% of interpersonal difficulty variance, 7.4% of sleep efficiency variance, and 15% of perceived sleep quality variance. The result also showed a positive, direct effect of chronic pain on poor sleep quality, which in turn positively and directly affect depression. However, chronic pain had only indirect effect on depression. CONCLUSIONS: Among chronic pain patients, the high rates of poor sleep quality and depression requires a special attention. Chronic pain intensity and disability predict depression and sleep quality dimensions differently. The result underlines the need of managing poor sleep quality to address depression in the context of chronic pain.