ABSTRACT
The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in increased rates of anxiety and depression worldwide. Objective. To comparatively evaluate factors associated with the psychological impact of Coronavirus disease between 2019 and the pandemic year 2020. Materials and Methods. The study was performed on a group of 3224 patients, of which 197 were hospitalized, selected from Jan 1st 2019 until 30th Dec 2020 in a tertiary care center for psychiatric disorders. Data were collected from the observation charts. Results. The incidence of anxiety disorders is higher in the age range 40-70 years with an average value of 53 years old. In 2019, a third of patients (29,45%) had alcohol-related conditions and developed anxiety-depressive disorder. In 2020, the percentage was lower (9.38%), but also the number of admitted patients significantly decreased (p<0.0001). There were not found significant differences in age, gender or environment. Hypnotic disorders were more predominant in 2019 (54.6% vs 37.5%, p=0.01), whereas in 2020 anxiety and agitation increased significantly (34.4% vs 84.38%, p=0.0001). Relapses were similarly frequent in both years, in half of the cases. Conclusions. Coronavirus pandemic lead to a decrease in both presentations and admission to hospital. Although there were not found significant differences in age or gender, more patients from urban environment were admitted, which can have several explanations. Anxiety and agitation became the main reason for hospitalization in 2020.
ABSTRACT
Seventeen months after the decree of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a different panorama about the influence of the new Coronavirus and its influence on social and consumption behavior. Thus, this study aims to verify changes in the feeling of fear of COVID-19 and in consumer relations, comparing the results of this research with those of others carried out at the beginning of the pandemic. For this research, a self-administered electronic questionnaire was answered by 246 online shoppers. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and a correlation matrix. The results showed an increase in purchases in virtual stores and local markets, but they have not proven to stock food and products for daily use, contrary to the literature. The survey also found behavioral differences between respondents up to 38 years old (among whom there was a strong perception of fear and intense nervousness with news related to COVID-19) and participants over this age (among whom there was annoyance with the pandemic, but a low sense of fear. Since we conducted this study 17 months after the declaration of the pandemic, our results reflect not only how the fear of COVID-19 changed consumer behavior but also how it varied amidst a more optimistic scenario resembling pre-pandemic scenarios. As suggestions for future studies, we highlight the analysis of the role of moderators such as gender and age. © 2023 Universia. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
background The COVID-19 pandemic has expanded to reach many countries, involving healthcare systems facing high numbers of infected patients. The repercussions concern every segment of the population;therefore it is necessary to understand the extent of psychopathological variations. participants and procedure 355 subjects aged from 18 to 78 years old (M = 36.51, SD = 13.08) with a prevalence of female subjects (70.3%) were involved in completing the protocol during the early 10 days of lockdown. The module provided for the collection of personal information, such as age, gender, and years of study. The variables considered concerned the administration of the IUS-12, the TAS-20, the PVDQ-15 and the SMQ. Descriptive statistics, correlational and linear regressions analyses were performed in order to highlight significant relationships and dependences among the variables. results Several relationships emerged with reference to the included variables. In particular, uncertainty and alexithymia proved to be indices with an important predictive role in developing psychopathology. The suppression of disturbing and unknown contents represented a defense for overcoming representations, whose impact proved to be negative in terms of adaptation. The results clarified the general tendencies of the population to cope with anguish due to the lack of knowledge in the first 10 days of lockdown. conclusions The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population is evident. The decision to analyze uncertainty, alexithymia and contamination as relevant issues brought the need to analyze a dynamic of conscious suppression of disturbing contents. The results may represent key points to establish interventions. © 2018 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement