Psychiatric symptoms in COVID-19-positive individuals in the general population: Trajectories of depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

The present study investigates differences in the trajectories of anxiety, depression, and sleep problems among infected versus non-infected case-controlled individuals. Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were selected from a representative sample in Norway (N > 10,000). In total, 126 of these individuals were infected during the project period, and this group was analyzed at T5 (May 2021). Of these positive cases, those who had completed both PHQ-9 and GAD-7 at all three measurement points were selected for longitudinal analysis using multilevel modeling. There was a significant difference at T5 between those who had tested positive for COVID-19 and matched controls. Anxiety and depression were reduced among those who tested positive, but there were no differences in trajectory when compared to matched controls. Limitations include the use of self-report measures and the assessment of symptoms at a time when strict virus mitigation protocols were in place. The present findings indicate that individuals who test positive for COVID-19 exhibit higher levels of depressive symptoms after restrictions are lifted. However, comparison of anxiety and depression symptom trajectories with matched controls reveals that both groups exhibited stable or slightly decreased symptoms.

Developing an internet-delivered intervention targeting residual cognitive symptoms after major depressive disorder: a person-based approach.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive difficulties are rarely addressed after the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). New scalable treatments are needed. To ensure relevance and engagement of novel interventions, there is a need to understand the perspectives of the users. AIM: Explore former depressed adults needs and perspectives during the planning and development of a novel internet-delivered intervention targeting residual cognitive symptoms after MDD. METHOD: The planning phase included exploratory qualitative interviews with former depressed adults (n = 16). In the development phase, a prototype including psychoeducation, attention training and compensatory strategies was tested in think-aloud interviews with former depressed adults (n = 7) and psychologists (n = 4). Data were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Analysis of exploratory interviews identified four themes. Experiences of residual cognitive symptoms consisted of two sub-themes (Everyday life is more demanding; Concerns about cognitive difficulties). Coping with residual cognitive symptoms had two sub-themes (Compensatory strategies; Acceptance). Needs from an intervention consisted of two-subthemes (Need for information; Therapist support). Barriers for engagement consisted of three sub-themes (Being overwhelmed; Not being motivated; Frequent registration). Analysis of think-aloud interviews was organized into three themes: Positive perceptions of content; Concerns regarding content; Perceptions of Layout, Visuals and Navigation. CONCLUSION: The intervention may address concerns and consequences of cognitive difficulties by including psychoeducation, compensatory strategies and elements to increase acceptance and motivation, provided in manageable proportions.

Pandemic Information Dissemination and Its Associations With the Symptoms of Mental Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic has added to the mental health strain on individuals and groups across the world in a variety of ways. Viral mitigation protocols and viral spread affect people on all continents every day, but at widely different degrees. To understand more about the mental health consequences of the pandemic, it is important to investigate whether or how people gather pandemic-related information and how obtaining this information differentially affects individuals. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether and to what extent higher levels of COVID-19-related media consumption across information sources are associated with the symptoms of anxiety, health anxiety, and depression, and whether and to what extent using social media and online interactive platforms versus traditional media platforms is associated with the symptoms of anxiety, health anxiety, and depression. Additionally, we aimed to investigate whether and to what extent avoidance of COVID-19-related information is associated with the aforementioned symptoms. METHODS: In a cross-sectional preregistered survey, 4936 participants responded between June 22 and July 13, 2020. Eligible participants were adults currently residing in Norway and were thus subjected to identical viral mitigation protocols. This sample was representative of the Norwegian population after utilizing an iterative raking algorithm to conduct poststratification. As 2 subgroups (transgender and intersex individuals) were too small to be analyzed, the final sample for descriptive statistics and regressions included 4921 participants. Multiple regressions were used to investigate associations between the symptoms of psychopathology and COVID-19-related information dissemination. Part correlations were calculated as measures of the effect size for each predictor variable. Due to the large anticipated sample size, the preregistered criterion for significance was set at P<.01. RESULTS: The symptoms of anxiety and health anxiety were significantly associated with obtaining information from newspapers (P<.001), social media (P<.001), and the broader categories of online interactive (P<.001) and traditional media (P<.001). The symptoms of depression were significantly associated with obtaining information from newspapers (P=.003), social media (P=.009), and the broader category of online interactive media (P<.001). Additionally, avoidance of COVID-19-related information showed a significant association in all 3 domains of psychopathological symptoms (anxiety and depression, P<.001; health anxiety, P=.007). CONCLUSIONS: This study found significant associations between the symptoms of psychopathology and the use of media for obtaining information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant findings for obtaining information through newspapers, social media, and online interactive media were seen across all 3 measures of psychopathology. Avoidance of COVID-19-related information and associations with the symptoms of psychopathology emerged as core findings, with generally higher effect sizes compared with information attainment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04442360; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04442360.

Risk, Trust, and Flawed Assumptions: Vaccine Hesitancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The pace at which the present pandemic and future public health crises involving viral infections are eradicated heavily depends on the availability and routine implementation of vaccines. This process is further affected by a willingness to vaccinate, embedded in the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy. The World Health Organization has listed vaccine hesitancy among the greatest threats to global health, calling for research to identify the factors associated with this phenomenon. Methods: The present cross-sectional study seeks to investigate the psychological, contextual, and sociodemographic factors associated with vaccination hesitancy in a large sample of the adult population. 4,571 Norwegian adults were recruited through an online survey between January 23 to February 2, 2021. Subgroup analyzes and multiple logistic regression was utilized to identify the covariates of vaccine hesitancy. Results: Several subgroups hesitant toward vaccination were identified, including males, rural residents, and parents with children below 18 years of age. No differences were found between natives and non-natives, across education or age groups. Individuals preferring unmonitored media platforms (e.g., information from peers, social media, online forums, and blogs) more frequently reported hesitance toward vaccination than those relying on information obtainment from source-verified platforms. Perceived risk of vaccination, belief in the superiority of natural immunity, fear concerning significant others being infected by the virus, and trust in health officials' dissemination of vaccine-related information were identified as key variables related to vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: Given the heterogeneous range of variables associated with vaccine hesitancy, additional strategies to eradicate vaccination fears are called for aside from campaigns targeting the spread of false information. Responding to affective reactions in addition to involving other community leaders besides government and health officials present promising approaches that may aid in combating vaccination hesitation.