How to deal with the negative psychological impact of COVID-19 for people who pay attention to anxiety and depression.

Background: The fear of insecurity and uncertainty caused by the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the separation and loss of certain important relationships, and great changes in lifestyle have awakened strong emotional responses, which may cause psychological problems in the general population. However, there is little research on how people who pay attention to anxiety and depression cope with the negative psychological impact during an epidemic or major disaster. This study aimed to identify what behaviors can effectively reduce negative emotions during an epidemic. Methods: From 1 February to 8 March 2020, we conducted a web-based survey and collected information on general demographic data. Probable depression, anxiety symptoms, and coping behaviors were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and self-made coping behaviors questionnaires. Result: Among 17 249 responders, 7923 and 9326 completed assessments of depression and anxiety respectively, and all responders completed the coping behaviors questionnaires. Our survey population showed a high prevalence rate of possible depression disorders (2746 of 7923, 34.66%) and anxiety disorders (5309 of 9326, 56.93%). Compared with other groups, the elderly, women, people of lower education, and people with lower income were more likely to suffer depression and/or anxiety. In terms of marital status, the cohabiting group showed the highest rate of depression and/or anxiety. Among the careers, students and housewives were high-risk groups suffering from depression and/or anxiety. After adjusting for social-demographic factors (e.g. age, sex), depression and anxiety were positively associated with self-injury, doing housework, and having sex or masturbating, and negatively associated with singing, drawing, or writing, dating friends online, singing, attending lectures, and doing yoga. Conclusion: Our findings identified some spontaneous coping behaviors that can probably relieve the psychological impact of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Psychological State Among the General Chinese Population Before and During the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Network Analysis.

Background: The infectious disease Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbroke in 2019 spread to multiple countries. The quick spread of the virus and isolation strategies may trigger psychological problems. Our aim was to explore the dynamic network structure of the psychological state before and during the epidemic. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted in two stages: the T1 stage (1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019) and the T2 stage (1 February 2020 to 8 March 2020). In both stages, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to assess depression, anxiety, and sleep, respectively. Results: We matched the data based on IP addresses. We included 1,978, 1,547, and 2,061 individuals who completed the depression, anxiety, and sleep assessments, respectively, at both stages. During epidemics, psychomotor agitation/retardation, inability to relax, restless behavior, and the frequency of using medicine had high centrality. Meanwhile, the network structure of psychological symptoms becomes stronger than before the epidemic. Conclusion: Symptoms of psychomotor agitation/retardation, inability to relax, and restless behavior should be treated preferentially. It is necessary to provide mental health services, including timely and effective early psychological intervention. In addition, we should also pay attention to the way patients use medicines to promote sleep quality.