Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and its relationship with public interest in mental health: a study between 2020-2022 in Spain.

The possible relationship between vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and mental health has been largely unexplored. We investigated variations in public interest in mental health issues between the different periods of the vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 in Spain and before the initiation of the campaign. Using Google Trends, we explored the relative search volume (RSV) for the terms 'anxiety', 'depression', 'stress', 'insomnia', and 'suicide' between 03/01/2020 and 01/15/2022. The RSV was compared for these terms with respect to four periods: the pre-vaccination pandemic period; the period running from initiation of vaccination until 50% of the population was fully vaccinated (FV); the period running from 50% FV to 70% FV; and the period after 70% FV. Differences in the RSV indices were observed between the studied periods for 'anxiety'(F = 6.07; p = 0.001; ƞ2 = 0.16), 'stress' (F = 7.77; p < 0.001; ƞ2 = 0.19), and 'insomnia' (F = 3.80; p = 0.013; ƞ2 = 0.11). A lower RSV was found for 'anxiety', 'stress', and 'insomnia' after 70% FV compared to the two previous vaccination periods. A lower RSV was also found for 'stress' after achieving the milestone of 70% FV in relation to the period prior to initiation of the campaign. In conclusion, there is less need for information on specific mental health topics in the period after 70% FV. In Spain, reaching this vaccination milestone may have had a positive impact on anxiety, stress, and insomnia levels in the population, as reflected in fewer web searches for information on these psychopathological processes. The promotion of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign could take into account the changes observed in this preliminary study with respect to public interest in stress, anxiety, and insomnia once a large percentage of the population has been vaccinated.

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN SPANISH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ASSOCIATED SOCIOOCCUPATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar las características sociolaborales, el estrés percibido, las estrategias de afrontamiento y la sintomatología psicopatológica de profesionales sanitarios y la relación entre ellas, durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Participaron 135 sanitarios (médicos, enfermeros y otros), quienes obtuvieron valores superiores a los datos normativos en las puntuaciones medias de las medidas de estrés percibido, ansiedad fóbica y ansiedad. El grupo de médicos mostró un nivel de ansiedad y somatización más bajo que el grupo formado por otros profesionales sanitarios. Ser profesional médico, tener un menor grado de estrés subjetivo percibido, más afrontamiento activo y menos afrontamiento pasivo eran predictores significativos de la presencia de menos síntomas psicopatológicos. La descripción del perfil del profesional sanitario español con un menor riesgo de mostrar sintomatología psicopatológica puede ser de utilidad para identificar a grupos de sanitarios con mayor vulnerabilidad psicológica. Los hallazgos sugieren factores psicológicos específicos de interés a considerar en las intervenciones destinadas al abordaje de las necesidades de salud mental de esta población en el contexto sanitario generado por la Covid-19.Alternate :The objective of this study was to analyze the socio-occupational features, perceived stress, coping strategies and self-reported psychopathological symptoms of different groups of health professionals and the relationship among these variables during the Covid-19 pandemic. One hundred and thirty-five healthcare workers participated (medical staff, nursing staff and other health professionals), who obtained higher values than the normative data in the mean scores of perceived stress, phobic anxiety, and anxiety measures. The medical staff group showed a lower level of anxiety and somatization than the other group of healthcare professionals. Being a medical professional, having a lower level of perceived subjective stress, a greater proportion of active coping and lesser passive coping were significant predictors of fewer psychopathological symptoms. The description of a health professional profile with a lower risk of showing psychopathological symptoms can help identify healthcare groups with greater psychological vulnerability. The findings suggest specific psychological factors of interest to consider in interventions aimed at addressing the mental health needs of this population in the health context generated by Covid-19.

COVID-19 pandemic and mental health in Spain: An analysis of their relationship using Google Trends. / Pandemia por COVID-19 y salud mental en España: un análisis de su relación utilizando Google Trends.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to examine the public interest that exists on Internet regarding various mental health topics and its relationship with evolution of COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Google Trends was used to explore relative search volume (RSV) for the following terms related with mental health (TRMH): "anxiety", "depression", "stress", "insomnia" and "suicide"; between January and December 2020. The cross-correlation function was performed to assess association between new COVID-19 cases and RSV levels for TRMH. Finally, Mann-Whitney test was used to examine differences between RSV values for TRMH before and after of state of alarm declarations on March and October 2020. RESULTS: The "anxiety" term showed the highest RSV indices. A significant correlation was found between new COVID-19 cases and RSV for "anxiety" with a time-lag of +1 week (r=0.49; p<.05). Was found an increase of SRV for "anxiety" (U=0.00; p=.01) and a decrease of SRV for "depression" (U=1.00; p=.04) between 4-week period before and after state of alarm of March 2020. Regarding the state of alarm of October 2020, a higher RSV for "anxiety" (U=0.50; p=.02) was found in the four weeks after it compared with a similar previous period. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety is the mental health topic of greatest public interest on Internet in context of COVID-19 pandemic. Public concern about anxiety rises one week after the increase in COVID-19 cases and is greater after introduction of control measures that entail any type of mobility restriction or activity limitation. There is a greater general need for information on anxiety at specific times in the pandemic evolution.

Síntomas psicopatológicos durante la cuarentena por COVID-19 en población general española: un análisis preliminar en función de variables sociodemográficas y ambientales-ocupacionales

OBJETIVO: La enfermedad pandémica por coronavirus (COVID-19) ha hecho necesaria la adopción de medidas de cuarentena en diferentes países. Estas medidas podrían tener un impacto sobre la salud mental de la población general en confinamiento. El objetivo del trabajo fue analizar las diferencias en la sintomatología psicopatológica mostrada por la población general española durante la cuarentena por COVID-19 en función de variables sociodemográficas, ambientales y ocupacionales. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio trasversal en una muestra de 151 participantes, con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 76 años, en el que se utilizó de forma online la versión española del Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire para medir el nivel de síntomas psicopatológicos. Se recogieron también variables sociodemográficas, ambientales y de ocupación (mediante una encuesta ad hoc). La información fue recogida del 3 al 6 abril de 2020. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y comparativo utilizando contrastes paramétricos (prueba t y ANOVA). RESULTADOS: Los participantes más jóvenes (18-35 años) mostraron niveles más altos de hostilidad (t=2,24;p = 0,02), depresión (t=2,56;p = 0,01), ansiedad (t=2,78;p = 0,006) y sensibilidad interpersonal (t=2,08;p = 0,04) que los participantes mayores (36-76 años). Las personas activas o empleadas presentaron valores más bajos de síntomas depresivos (t=2,10;p = 0,04) que las personas desempleadas. Los participantes que dedicaron menos de 30 minutos a informarse sobre el COVID-19 mostraron puntuaciones más altas en hostilidad (t=2,36;p = 0,02) y sensibilidad interpersonal (t=1,98;p = 0,04) que los participantes que indicaron dedicar al menos 30 minutos. Las personas que practicaban deporte diariamente informaron de un menor nivel de síntomas de somatización (t=-2,11;p = 0,03) que las personas que no practicaban deporte. Aquellos que tenían familiares, conocidos, etc. con COVID-19 informaron de niveles más altos de ansiedad (t=2,09;p = 0,04) que aquellos que no tenían a personas cercanas infectadas. Por último, los participantes que vivían solos mostraron un mayor nivel de psicoticismo (F=3,93;p = 0,02) en comparación con aquellos que vivían con más de dos personas. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados de este estudio muestran que durante la cuarentena se pueden identificar grupos con mayor vulnerabilidad psicológica en función de factores sociodemográficos y ocupacionales-contextuales OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic disease forced different countries to adopt quarantine measures. These actions could have an impact on mental health in the general population. The objective of this study was to analyze the differences in psychopathological symptoms shown by Spanish general population during the COVID-19 quarantine based on sociodemographic, occupational and environmental-contextual variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional pilot study was performed in a sample of 151 participants aged between 18-76 years old. The Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire via online was used to measure the severity of psychopathology symptoms. Socio-demographic, environmental and occupational variables were collected with an ad hoc questionnaire. The data were gathered from the 3rd to the 6th of April, 2020. A descriptive and comparative analysis was carried out using parametric contrasts (t test and ANOVA). RESULTS: The younger participants (18-35 years) showed higher levels of hostility (t=2.24;p = 0.02), depression (t=2.56;p = 0.01), anxiety (t=2.78;p = 0.006) and interpersonal sensitivity (t=2.08;p = 0.04) than older participants (36-76 years). The active or employed people presented lower values of depressive symptoms (t=2.10;p = 0.04) than unemployed people. The participants who dedicate less than 30 minutes on getting informed about COVID-19 showed higher scores for hostility (t=2.36;p = 0.02) and interpersonal sensitivity (t=1.98;p = 0.04) than participants who indicated dedicating at least 30 minutes. People who played sport daily reported a lower level of somatization symptoms (t=-2.11;p = 0.03) than persons that did not play sport. Those who had relatives, acquaintances, etc. with COVID-19 reported higher levels of anxiety (t=2.09;p = 0.04) than those who did not have close people infected. Lastly, participants who lived alone showed a higher level of psychoticism (F=3.93;p = 0.02) compared to those who lived with more than two people. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show that during quarantine can be identified groups with higher psychological vulnerability based on sociodemographic and occupational-contextual factors

[Psychopathological symptoms during Covid-19 quarantine in spanish general population: a preliminary analysis based on sociodemographic and occupational-contextual factors.]

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic disease forced different countries to adopt quarantine measures. These actions could have an impact on mental health in the general population. The objective of this study was to analyze the differences in psychopathological symptoms shown by Spanish general population during the COVID-19 quarantine based on sociodemographic, occupational and environmental-contextual variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional pilot study was performed in a sample of 151 participants aged between 18-76 years old. The Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire via online was used to measure the severity of psychopathology symptoms. Socio-demographic, environmental and occupational variables were collected with an ad hoc questionnaire. The data were gathered from the 3rd to the 6th of April, 2020. A descriptive and comparative analysis was carried out using parametric contrasts (t test and ANOVA). RESULTS: The younger participants (18-35 years) showed higher levels of hostility (t=2.24;p=0.02), depression (t=2.56;p=0.01), anxiety (t=2.78;p=0.006) and interpersonal sensitivity (t=2.08;p=0.04) than older participants (36-76 years). The active or employed people presented lower values of depressive symptoms (t=2.10;p=0.04) than unemployed people. The participants who dedicate less than 30 minutes on getting informed about COVID-19 showed higher scores for hostility (t=2.36;p=0.02) and interpersonal sensitivity (t=1.98;p=0.04) than participants who indicated dedicating at least 30 minutes. People who played sport daily reported a lower level of somatization symptoms (t=-2.11;p=0.03) than persons that did not play sport. Those who had relatives, acquaintances, etc. with COVID-19 reported higher levels of anxiety (t=2.09;p=0.04) than those who did not have close people infected. Lastly, participants who lived alone showed a higher level of psychoticism (F=3.93;p=0.02) compared to those who lived with more than two people. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show that during quarantine can be identified groups with higher psychological vulnerability based on sociodemographic and occupational-contextual factors.