Impact of the coronavirus outbreak on mental health in the different Spanish regions

Introduction. COVID-19 is an infectious disease that has affected millions of people worldwide, Spain being one of the countries most affected by the pandemic. It is key to study its impact on the mental health of the Spanish population during the lockdown situation. The aim is to analyse maladaptive responses in each autonomous community during the first two weeks after the state of emergency was declared in Spain. Material and Methods. Through an online questionnaire, clinical and sociodemographic information was collected from participants between 19 and 26 March 2020. The DASS-21 and the IES questionnaires were used to evaluate the maladaptive psychological responses. Results. A total of 21,152 people completed the questionnaire. Mean age was 39.75 (SD 14.039), and 69.6% were women. Most of the participants lived in Asturias (36.2%) and Cantabria (11.9%). In the sample as a whole, among the maladaptive responses, depressive symptoms represented the highest percentage (46.7%), followed by stress (33.2%) and anxiety (10.7%) symptoms. The results of the DASS-21 revealed that a higher proportion of the people from Andalusia [N=1979 (9.3%))]were affected in all three domains: depressive (59.7%), stress (41.7 %), and anxiety (16.2%) symptoms, Castilla La Mancha had the highest percentage of intrusive response (31.2%), while Andalusia had the highest percentage of avoidance behaviour (55.7%). Conclusions. Almost half of the sample showed maladaptive reactions, depressive symptoms and avoidance behaviour being the most common responses. Repercussions on mental health during and after large-scale traumatic events should be addressed carefully to minimize maladaptive responses in the general population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) Introduccion. La COVID-19 es una enfermedad infecciosa que esta afectando a millones de personas alrededor del mundo, siendo Espana uno de los paises mas afectados por la pandemia. Es fundamental evaluar el impacto de la salud mental de la poblacion espanola durante el periodo de confinamiento. El objetivo es analizar las respuestas desadaptativas en cada comunidad autonoma durante las dos primeras semanas tras la declaracion del estado de alarma en Espana. Metodologia. A traves de un cuestionario "online", se recogieron variables clinicas y sociodemograficas de los participantes del 19 al 26 de marzo. Para estudiar las respuestas desadaptativas, se utilizaron los cuestionarios DASS-21 y EIE. Resultados. 21.152 personas completaron el cuestionario. La edad media fue 39,75 (DE 14,039) y el 69,6 % eran mujeres. La mayoria de los participantes vivia en Asturias (36,2 %) y Cantabria (11,9 %). La respuesta desadaptativa mas frecuente de la muestra fueron los sintomas depresivos (46,7 %), seguida del estres (33,2 %) y la ansiedad (10,7 %). Los resultados de la DASS-21 desvelaron que en Andalucia [N = 1979 (9,3 %)] se observo un mayor porcentaje en los tres dominios: sinto-mas depresivos (59,7 %), estres (41,7 %) y ansiedad (16,2 %). Castilla-La Mancha tuvo el porcentaje mas alto de respuesta intrusiva (31,2 %) y Andalucia de respuesta evitativa (55,7 %). Conclusiones. Casi la mitad de la muestra presento respuestas desadaptativas, siendo los sintomas depresivos y la conducta evitativa las mas frecuentes. El impacto sobre la salud mental durante y tras eventos traumaticos de gran escala deberia de abordarse minuciosamente para minimizar las respuestas desadaptativas en la poblacion general. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Early Psychological Correlates Associated With COVID-19 in A Spanish Older Adult Sample.

OBJECTIVE: Main aims of the study are to examine the early psychological correlates associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the mental health of a Spanish older adult sample and to analyze the influence of past mental disorder (PMD) and current mental disorder (CMD) on those correlates. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on an online snowball recruiting questionnaire. Psychological correlates assessed with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Impact of Event Scale (IES). Binary and multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify risk and protective factors. RESULTS: Final sample included 2,194 individuals aged 60 years or more (mean age [SD]: 65.62 [5.05]; females: 1,198 [54.6%]). There were 342 (15.6%) individuals who reported a PMD and 162 (7.4%) who reported a CMD. Avoidant (32.1%) and depressive (25.6%) styles were the most prevalent, regardless of mental health status. Main risk factors for negative affectivity were female gender and history CMD or PMD. However, job stability and the ability to enjoy free time were generally associated with better outcomes. No differences were found in psychological correlates between those with no lifetime history of mental disorder versus PMD on the DASS-21 or IES. However, CMD was associated with higher anxiety scores on the DASS-21 (odds ratio: 1.838, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Regardless of mental status, avoidant and depressive styles were the most prevalent in this older adult sample. Main protective factor in all subgroups was the ability to enjoy free time, whereas the main risk factors were being female and current or past history of mental disorder.