The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicidal Ideation and Depression in Community-Dwelling Elderly.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on depression and suicidal ideation in community-dwelling elderly in Korea. METHODS: Data were employed from a survey on elderly mental health in Jeollanam-do (southwest province in Korea), conducted by the Jeollanam-do Provincial Mental Health and Welfare Center. A total of 2423 people were recruited from all 22 cities in Jeollanam-do from April to October, 2021. We used self-reported questionnaires including sociodemographic factors, COVID-19-related stress, the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form Korean Version, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Satisfaction With Life Scale and the Brief Resilience Scale. Logistic regression was performed to examine the factors of depression and suicidal ideation. RESULTS: Of the 2423 subjects, 622 (25.7%) reported depressive symptoms and 518 (21.4%) reported suicidal ideation. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that living alone, poor perceived health status, worry of COVID-19 infection, and restriction of daily activities due to COVID-19 pandemic are significantly associated with depression. Female gender, poor perceived health status, inability to perform household chores, and depressive symptom are risk factors of suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: These findings show that old age, negative perception of health, and restriction of daily activities due to COVID-19 are risk factors of depression in community-dwelling elderly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Female gender, poor self-perceived health status, and depression increase the risk of suicidal ideation among the elderly. Social support and life satisfaction are protecting factors of both depression and suicidal ideation. Resilience decreased risk of depression but not in suicidal ideation.

Contribution of stress and coping strategies to problematic Internet use in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Internet use is already high and increasing rapidly among people with psychotic disorders, but there have been few studies on problematic Internet use (PIU) among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of PIU and identify the factors associated with PIU among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed that included 368 outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: 317 with schizophrenia, 22 with schizoaffective disorder, 9 with schizophreniform disorder, and 20 with other schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorders. The severity of psychotic symptoms and levels of personal and social functioning were assessed by the Clinician-rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity (CRDPSS) scale and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale, respectively. PIU was evaluated using Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Additionally, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rosenberg Selfesteem Scale (RSES), and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) Inventory were administered. RESULTS: PIU was identified in 81 (22.0%) of the 368 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Subjects with PIU were significantly younger and more likely to be male. Scores on the HADS, PSS, and dysfunctional coping dimension of the Brief COPE Inventory were significantly higher, and RSES scores were significantly lower, in the PIU group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that PIU in patients was significantly associated with scores on the PSS and dysfunctional coping dimension of the Brief COPE Inventory. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and PIU were significantly more likely to have high levels of perceived stress and dysfunctional coping strategies. Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who also engage in PIU may benefit from interventions that help them to develop appropriate skills for coping with stress.