Difficulty in work practices and depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidence of serious social mental health problems such as depression. Changes to the way we work, such as telework, are potential factors for mental health problems. This study's aim was to investigate the relationship between difficulties adjusting to new work styles and depression among job workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a web-questionnaire survey of 919 Japanese workers (May 2020) using the snowball sampling method. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis using a dependent variable (depression), an independent variable (difficulty in work practices), and adjustment variables (gender, age, working practices, and coping) found that those who had difficulty "communicating with boss, colleagues, and subordinates" and "switching on and off" were more likely to be depressed. This study shows that there was a relationship between difficulty in work practices and depression during the pandemic. Given this study's limitations, it is hoped that the influence of region and occupation on depression will be examined by recruiting a wide range of participants in the future. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Prevention and early treatment of depression through the life course

This book presents current evidence of new perspectives for the prevention and appropriate management of depression in people across the life course. Special attention has been dedicated to facilitating factors for the development of health system capacity and the effectiveness of the different types of interventions. The first part of the book reviews the innovations in global prevention and non-pharmacological treatments for children, adolescents, and youths. The second part reviews interventions for adults across the lifespan, including older adults and caregivers. Despite the efforts to tackle depression, the COVID-19 pandemic directly or indirectly affected the mental health of the population, including an increase in the incidence of depressive disorders, which are underdiagnosed and undertreated in young and older people. Because of the characteristics of adolescence and older adulthood, people can consider depression signs and symptoms as natural, neglecting a proper diagnosis. To address these challenges in the clinical management of depression, Prevention and Early Treatment of Depression Through the Life Course presents a life course perspective on the analysis and treatment of depression to help clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals understand the mechanisms associated with the onset of depression and identify/develop proper evidence-based treatments for different ages and in different circumstances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Management of depression: A daily challenge in psychiatric emergencies

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in the general population, and emergency room visits for depression have been increasing for several years. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic may lead to an explosion of psychiatric emergency room visits for this reason, with an overall prevalence of anxiety and depression that appears to be increasing since 2020. The Centre Psychiatrique d'Orientation et d'Accueil is a regional psychiatric emergency service located in Paris which records approximately 10,000 consultations per year. Among these consultations, the main symptoms are those of depression (depressive ideations, anxiety) and nearly 40 % are diagnosed with mood disorders, including depression. The management of the patient in the emergency room is based on a global evaluation, which should not be limited to the psychiatric interview. In the best case, and if compatible with the organization of the service, an initial evaluation by the nursing reception staff determines the context of the arrival of the patient, the reason and the degree of urgency of the consultation can thus be assessed from the outset. The request for care can come from the patient themself, but also from family and friends who are worried about a decline in the patient's previous condition. The consultation may also be triggered by the intervention of emergency services, particularly in the case of attempted suicide or agitation. The context of arrival, the environment, and the patient's entourage must be taken into account in order to achieve an optimal orientation. Particular attention must be paid to the first episodes (elimination of a differential diagnosis, screening for a possible bipolar disorder). The existence of an external causal factor or a comorbid personality disorder should not trivialize the consultation and lead to a faulty diagnosis of a characterized depressive episode. Drug treatment in the emergency room is usually symptomatic (anxiolytic treatment with benzodiazepines or neuroleptics, depending on the situation), and outpatient referral should always be preferred. Therapeutic adaptations can then be considered. The decision to hospitalize must always be justified, and consent for care must be rigorously evaluated. It is almost always necessary to take the patient's entourage into account as well as the potential support of the patient by the entourage. All these elements must be recorded in the file. Suicide risk assessment must be systematic for all patients consulting psychiatric emergencies, and the use of the RUD (Risk, Urgency, Dangerousness) grid can be useful. Any decision to release a patient with suicidal tendencies must be made strictly following certain conditions:a rapid psychiatric re-evaluation of the crisis, with for example the proposal of a post-emergency consultation, a supportive entourage, accepted symptomatic treatment. The registration of the suicidal patient in a monitoring system such as VigilanS can also be beneficial and reduce the risk of recidivism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (French) La depression est le trouble psychiatrique le plus frequent dans la population generale, et les consultations aux urgences pour depression seraient en hausse depuis plusieurs annees. Le Centre Psychiatrique d'Orientation et d'Accueil est un service d'urgences psychiatriques a vocation regionale situe a Paris qui recense environ 10 000 consultations par an. Parmi ces consultations, on retrouve pres de 40 % de diagnostics de troubles de l'humeur. La prise en charge du patient aux urgences repose sur une evaluation globale, qui ne doit pas se limiter a l'entretien psychiatrique. Le contexte d'arrivee, l'environnement et l'entourage du patient doivent etre pris en compte afin d'aboutir a une orientation optimale. Une attention particuliere doit etre portee aux premiers episodes (elimination d'un diagnostic differentiel, depistage d'un eventuel trouble bipolaire) et a l'evaluation du risque suicidaire. L'existence d'un facteur causal externe ou d'un trouble de personnalite comorbide ne doit pas faire banaliser la consultation et mener a un sous-diagnostic de depression caracterisee. Le traitement medicamenteux aux urgences est le plus souvent symptomatique (traitement anxiolytique par benzodiazepines ou neuroleptiques selon les situations), et l'orientation ambulatoire doit toujours etre privilegiee. Des adaptations therapeutiques peuvent alors etre envisagees. La decision d'une hospitalisation doit toujours etre argumentee, et le consentement aux soins rigoureusement evalue. La prise en compte et eventuellement l'accompagnement de l'entourage sont presque toujours necessaires. Tous ces elements doivent etre argumentes dans le dossier. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Engaged women's relationships, weddings, and mental health during Covid-19

We examined the association between mental health and relationship and wedding factors among engaged women planning their weddings before and during Covid-19. Survey data from 715 non-Covid-19 and 427 Covid-19 participants revealed that Covid-19 participants experienced depression in greater proportion than non-Covid-19 participants. Wedding satisfaction and financial strain were stronger predictors of depression for Covid-19 than non-Covid-19 participants. Other significant predictors of Covid-19 participants' depression included social isolation, relational satisfaction and turbulence, and wedding disillusionment. Additionally, 22.0% of Covid-19 participants reported severe levels of anxiety, which was significantly predicted by social isolation, relational turbulence, wedding financial strain, wedding disillusionment, and wedding satisfaction. According to Covid-19 participants' open-ended responses, less depressed participants liked something better about their revised wedding plans, more anxious participants could not identify positive aspects of their revised plans, and less anxious participants appreciated the perspective that came with revising wedding plans due to Covid-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Sedentary lifestyle may contribute to the risk of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Social exclusion usually contributes to an increased vulnerability to mental health problems and risky health behaviors. This study aims to identify the role of health behavior in the increased risk of depressive symptoms among adolescents during the coronavirus pandemic in Hungary. Methods: A total of 705 high school students participated in our study (M = 15.9 years;SD = 1.19). The self-administered questionnaire included items about sociodemographics, eating habits, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and substance use. Depressive symptoms were measured using the short version of the Child Depression Inventory. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze our results. Results: Daily fruit and vegetable consumption was reported by 21.7% and 22.4% of respondents, respectively. The proportion of the respondents reporting daily sweets consumption stood at 13.2%, daily soft drinks consumption was 12.3%, and daily energy drink consumption tallied to 4.5%. More than one-third of the sample (35.5%) reported having breakfast every school day, which rose to 68.1% of the sample reporting breakfast on both weekend days. The rate of students engaged in daily physical activity was 6.5%, while 86.1% of them reported more than four hours screen time in a day. In addition, despite the mandatory confinement, a notable percentage of adolescents engaged in substance use. Consistent with previous studies, girls had a higher risk of depression. Low levels of physical activity and high levels of screen time-as well as alcohol and drug use-were associated with a high risk of depression. Conclusions: We believe our study provided useful information on adolescent health behaviors that can lead to adolescents' depression, and that maintaining physical activity can prevent it even in these unusual circumstances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Changes in depression levels for U.S. rural communities before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

The objective of this research is to identify whether there were statistically significant changes in depression severity for rural residents in the United States before the COVID-19 pandemic and after its start in 2020. This study uses paired-sample t tests to differentiate between depression levels, measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, before the pandemic and after its start for a sample of rural residents (n = 324), as well as a subsample of women (n = 224) and Black clients (n = 55). Results indicate that the average Patient Health Questionnaire-9 decreased from 11.86 to 11.77 for the total sample and from 12 to 11.99 for the subsample of women, whereas the subsample of Black residents increased from 10.58 to 11.27 for prepandemic versus postpandemic levels, though the differences are not statistically significant. Given the urban/rural differences in coping with challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States cannot have a one-size-fits-all pandemic response policy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Prevalence of depression and its related factors during the COVID-19 quarantine among the elderly in Iran

Objectives: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to its rapid transmission has created an emergency situation in global health in less than a few months around the world. This disease not only causes public health concerns but also causes a number of psychological illnesses including depression. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of depression during the COVID-19 quarantine among the elderly in Iran. Methods & Materials: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 432 eligible older adults living in Gonabad city who were selected by cluster random sampling method. Data were collected by a demographic checklist and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) which were completed via phone. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistics, considering a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of depression was 55.8% which had a statistically significant relationship with marital status (P < 0.001), living status (P < 0.001), economic status (P < 0.001), family history of depression (P < 0.001), history of chronic disease (P < 0.003), level of education (P < 0.001), and sleep quality (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Depression has a high prevalence among the elderly in Gonabad city during the COVID-19 quarantine. In this regard, related interventions for this group should be considered in the plans of health care providers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Psychosocial factors associated with depression and anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic among outpatients with depression

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 23(1) of Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi (see record 2022-72055-007). In the original article, the second affiliation lacks information;therefore the information of ''Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM)'' has been added in parenthesis. The article has been updated in the journal's archive. You may access the updated article via the link below.] Objective: Long-term social distancing, isolation, and economic fallout may be significant psychological triggers during pandemic, such as COVID-19, especially for those with underlying psychiatric illness. This study was conducted to address the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic among patients with depression based at a teaching hospital in Malaysia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional online study among patients with depression from University Malaya Medical Centre, using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale-Self Assessment (MADRS-S), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP), and Social Media Addiction during COVID-19 Pandemic (SMACOP). Results: One hundred seventy-eight patients participated in this study. The mean total of the KAP score is 12.65 (SD = 2.65), with knowledge section (mean = 7.34 [SD = 2.13]), attitudes section (mean = 2.63 [SD = 0.58]), and practices section (mean = 2.69 [SD = 1.00]). They scored moderately on the MADRS-S (mean = 21.03 [SD = 4.62]) and ISI (mean = 20.25 [SD = 4.62]) but had high GAD-7 scores (mean = 16.8 (SD = 6.27]). From the multiple logistic regression analyses, depressive symptoms of greater severity (MADRS-S 18-34) are significantly associated with more severe insomnia (P < .001, adjusted OR = 9.101, 95% CI: 3.613-22.924). Furthermore, the high anxiety level is associated with the younger age group (P = .029, Adjusted OR = 2.274, 95% CI: 1.090-4.746), greater severity of insomnia (P < .001, Adjusted OR = 22.9, 95% CI: 6.145-85.343), and higher risk of COVID-19 related social media addiction (P = .011, adjusted OR = 2.637, 95% CI: 1.253-5.550). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the high levels of sleep disturbances and anxiety symptoms experienced by outpatients with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are closely linked to the younger age group and at-risk social media addiction related to COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Cognitive vulnerability and depressive symptoms among Emirati college students before and after the enactment of COVID-19 curfew and home-learning measures

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that college students in many nations, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) included, have had to switch to home-learning. Additionally, infection control measures in the UAE have also led to the enactment of population-wide curfews. The present study represents an exploration of cognitive vulnerability to depression and depressive symptomatology, both before and after the UAE enacted measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. The study relied upon a quasi-experimental design, where two groups of college students from the same population completed measures of depressive symptoms and cognitive vulnerabilities before (N = 34) and after (N = 85) the UAE implemented home learning and curfew measures. The posited cognitive vulnerability's (ruminative response styles and dysfunctional attitudes) were both retained as predictors of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, depressive symptom scores were significantly higher after the enactment of the UAE's curfew and home learning measures. It may be particularly important to provide mental health support for college students during extended periods of enforced home learning and curfew. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Prevalence of anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare students in Jordan and its effect on their learning process: A national survey

Rational: During pandemics, including the most recent COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of university healthcare students' is expected to be affected negatively, impacting the students' learning process. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the level of anxiety and depression of healthcare students living in Jordan, and the effect on their learning process during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey completed by students studying a healthcare-oriented degree in a university in Jordan. Participants were recruited through social media (Facebook and WhatsApp). The validated previously published Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire was used as a part of the online survey to assess students' anxiety/depression scores. Students' responses regarding their learning process during the COVID-19 was also assessed. Results: The mean age of participants was 21.62 (SD = 4.90), with the majority being females (67.1%). The HADs' assessment revealed that 43.8% and 40.0% of participants had normal anxiety and depression scores, while 22.4% showed borderline abnormal anxiety/depression scores (33.8%). Many students (33.8%) were classified to have abnormal anxiety scores, while a smaller proportion (26.2%) was classified to have abnormal depression scores. Smoking (p = 0.022), lower family income (p = 0.039), and use of medications (p = 0.032) were positively associated with higher (worse) anxiety scores. Ranking the learning process during COVID-19 showed that 45.8% of the participants believed it was a 'good/ very good/excellent' process. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression levels amongst university healthcare students in Jordan were found to be high when assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the learning process during the pandemic was not accepted by more than half of the students. Implementing psychological interventions for healthcare students during pandemics is strongly recommended in order to optimize students' mental health and their learning process alike. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Depression, anxiety and state guilt in individuals under quarantine in an institution due to COVID-19 and the related factors

Introduction: This study identifies depression, anxiety and state guilt of Turkish citizens kept in quarantine for 14 days in an institution where they are brought upon their request within the scope of infection control measures and the related affecting risk factors during the coronavirus pandemic. Methods: A total of 385 individuals under quarantine for 14 days between the dates of April 20-May 21, 2020 were included in the study. The data were collected using a socio-demographic data form (age, gender, employment status, having sleep disorder, duration of television review and Internet use, etc.), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Guilt Scale (GS) after the participants were informed about the study objective and they signed the informed consent form. Results: A total of 385 participants, 84 of whom were women, with a mean age of 35.32+/-11.7 were included in the study. According to BAI and BDI, 14.5% of the participants had anxiety and 17.1% had depression symptoms. The regression analysis found that female gender, having sleep disorder, using Internet for 8 hours or more and having chronic illness were risk factors for anxiety;while female gender, being aged 18-30, having sleep disorder, having psychiatric illness, and using Internet for 8 hours or more were risk factors for depression. The state guilt did not show any significant correlation with any socio-demographic factor. Conclusion: Female gender, being young, having a history of psychiatric illness, having chronic illness, having sleep disorder, using Internet for 8 hours or more were found to be risk factors for more anxiety and depression symptoms. It is important to educate people about the methods of how to maintain healthy sleep during quarantine, to effectively fight against the excessive circulation of misinformation and to provide sufficient medical care to those with psychiatric and chronic diseases, being more vulnerable against infections. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Life events and emotional disorder revisited: Research and clinical applications

Life Events and Emotional Disorder Revisited explores the variety of events that can occur, their inherent characteristics and how they affect our lives and emotions, and in turn their impact on our mental health and wellbeing. The book focuses on current social problems nationally and internationally, showing the reach of life events research including those linked to Covid-19. It also discusses trauma experiences and how they fit in the life events scheme. To underpin the various life event dimensions identified (such as loss, danger and humiliation), the authors have developed an underlying model of human needs, jeopardised by the most damaging life events. This includes attachment, security, identity and achievement. The book brings together classic research findings with new advances in the field of life events research, culminating in a new theoretical framework of life events, including new discussions on trauma, on positive events and an online methodology for measuring them. Additionally, it draws out the clinical implications to apply the research for improved practice. The book will be of interest to researchers, clinicians and students in psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy in broadening their understanding of how life events impact on individuals and how this can be applied to enhance clinical practice and stimulate future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)