ABSTRACT
Aim: Adolescents have experienced disruption in their daily routines, including changes in health behaviors such as an increased sedentary behavior and increased smartphone usage. The aim of this study was to assess the association of health behaviors with mental health problems. Method(s): Five cross-sectional surveys (February 2021 to May 2022) were performed during the pandemic assessing physical activity, smartphone usage, depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionaire-9 (PHQ-9)), anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 (GAD-7)), sleep quality (Insomnia Severity Index 7 (ISI-7)), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10)). In total, N = 7201 adolescents (age: 14-20 years ((MW +/- SD): 16.63 +/- 1.49 years);70.2% female, 18.8% migration background) participated. Result(s): A strong increase in mobile phone usage as well as a decrease in physical activity as compared to pre-pandemic data were observed (p < 0.001). Compared to the lowest smartphone user group (<1 h/d), the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for depressive symptoms increased with increasing smartphone usage to 1.98 (3-4 h/d), 3.30 (5-6 h/d), 4.96 (7-8 h/d), and 6.79 (>8 h/d). High utilizers (>8 h/d) were also more likely to experience clinically relevant anxiety, insomnia, or stress symptoms (aORs 3.23-5.75) compared to those using the smartphone less than 1 h/d. Conclusion(s): Results highlight the need for measures to promote responsible smartphone usage as well as to increase physical activity, so as to promote mental health in adolescence.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
Objective: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The present research aimed to investigate the moderating role of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal capability in suicidal ideation, behavior, and attempts among the Iranian population. Method(s): The data were analyzed using cross-sectional regression models. The population of this study included 600 students of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. The tools used to collect the data in this study were the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, the Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS), the Suicide Attempt Questionnaire, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (IPTS), the Suicide Capacity Scale-3, the Adverse Childhood Experiences, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, and the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised. Result(s): The results of this study showed that there was an interaction between thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness in suicidal behavior and DSI-SS. The results also showed that the acquired and practical capability subscales (suicidal capability) strengthen the relationship between suicidal behavior and the DSI-SS, on the one hand, and suicide attempt, on the other hand. Conclusion(s): The findings of the study showed that the interpersonal theory of suicide can pave the way to prevent suicidal ideation and behavior in Iranian society, and it is recommended that Iranian practitioners apply the theory in practice.Copyright © 2022 Yerkure Tanitim ve Yayincilik Hizmetleri A.S.. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are linked to morbidity, decreased mobility, and feelings of isolation, powerlessness and sadness. The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in adult patients with DFU. Method(s): We analysed questionnaires completed by patients with DFU attending our University Hospital Multidisciplinary Foot Clinic service over a one-month period in March 2022. The patients had completed three questionnaires, comprising of questions relating to socio-demographic status and care perceptions, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale to assess depression, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) to assess anxiety. Result(s): Of the 60 patients who completed the questionnaires, 35% (n=21) reported anxiety symptoms and 40% (n=24), depressive symptoms. Individuals with comorbidities were three times more likely to report depression relative to those without any comorbidities (OR 3.3;95% CI 1.13-12.56). Younger individuals (less than 50 years), were almost nine times more likely to report anxiety in comparison to those aged 60 years or more (adjusted OR 8.9;95% CI 1.01-86.41), despite adjustment for confounding variables. Conclusion(s): The prevalence of depression and anxiety in this cohort of patients with DFU was low, but those who were affected reported moderate to severe symptoms. Younger individuals and those with comorbid conditions with DFU are more likely to experience an adverse impact on their mental health. This is a crucial factor to consider in the management of people undergoing DFU care. Strategies to reduce anxiety and/or depressive symptoms could impact both quality of life and wound healing. Copyright © 2023 John Wiley & Sons.Copyright © 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Background: The cellular inflammation generated by SARS-COV-2 has been linked with different psychological impairments to long-term. The Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can generate positive changes in these patients. Aim(s): To know the effects of a brief behavioural cognitive e-therapy on emotional symptoms, and cellular inflammation in COVID-19 survivors. Method(s): A quasi-experimental study was carried out. Participated two groups of survivors COVID-19 patients;experimental group (TG;4) and wait-list group (WLG;6). Both groups were evaluated using The General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the brief Davidson Trauma Scale. Cellular inflammation was evaluated by an assessment of salivary IL-6 in a three-phase paradigm: baseline, stress, and recovery. The TG has received eight virtual mindfulness-based cognitive therapy sessions lasting two hours. The statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS version 26. Result(s): The average age was about 58+/-11.57 years (TG), and 44.33+/- 17.18 years (WLG). The TG showed a only a clinical differences in the psychological symptoms (anxiety;Mepre = 15.50, Mepost = 8, depression;Mepre =13, Mepost =6 and PTSD;Mepre = 10, Mepost = 5.50), and in the il-6 levels (Base line Mepre = 7.11 pg/mL, Mepost = 16 pg/mL, stress phase Mepre = 10.07 pg/mL, Mepost = 8.77 pg/mL, and recovery phase Me = 14.08 pg/mL, Me = 16.29 pg/mL). Conclusion(s): This type of therapy can helps to reduce the levels of the emotional alterations and generate a modulation of the il-6 levels. The effects of this type of treatment need to continue in research as a therapeutic option for the population that survives COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Background: The post-COVID syndrome generates physical and respiratory complications that can be accompanied by psychological impairments, which can affect long-term mental and physical health. Objective(s): Know the prevalence and severity of PTSD, anxiety, and depression in surviving COVID-19 patients in a follow-up evaluation. Method(s): A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. 227 survivors COVID-19 patients participated, were assessed three months following discharge hospital. The following questionnaires were used: The Brief Davidson Trauma Scale, the General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, and the Patient Health Questionnaire. A descriptive and statically analysis was performed using the statistical software SPSS version 26. Result(s): The 64.5% of the patients were men, 60.9% required of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) during the hospitalization, the average age was about 48.23+/-14.33 years old. The 40% of the patients showed symptoms associated with PTSD, 38.4% anxiety symptoms, 36.6% depression symptoms. There were statistically significant differences between the type of treatment during hospitalization (IMV vs without IMV), in PTSD (t=2.482, df=223, p=.014, XIMV = 5.21, XWIMV = 6.08) and anxiety (t= -2.006, df=223, p=.046, XIMV = 4.05, XWIMV =5.44). Conclusion(s): Survivors of COVID-19 experience a high prevalence of PTSD, anxiety, and depression even three months after discharge from hospital. Patients who did not require IMV during hospitalization experienced a high prevalence and severity of PTSD and anxiety symptoms. Screening for PTSD and other emotional disturbances should be considered in follow-up evaluations in patients discharged from the hospital.
ABSTRACT
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and lockdown had a significant impact on mental health during the last two years. However, the majority of studies do not concentrate on the risk and protective factors that influence the relationship between COVID-19 and subjective well-being. Therefore, the present study aims to identify such stressful experiences and the influence of COVID-19 and various stressors. Methodology We have conducted this community-based, cross-sectional, analytical study in the Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu for four months. After obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee, we gathered data for the study. Two field practice areas were involved in data collection. A convenient sampling procedure was used to select 291 households for the study. The lead investigator interviewed one individual from each household, preferably the head of the family. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the pertinent information. The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) scale were used to assess anxiety and stress. All collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA), and SPSS software version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used to analyze the results. Results Among the participants, 34% had a history of COVID-19 infection, and 58.4% of the families had at least one chronic comorbidity among the family members. The CAS score was significantly associated with the residence (p = 0.049), marital status (p = 0.001), and previous history of COVID-19 (p = 0.016) of the study participants. The study found that gender was the only factor associated with both the PSS score (p = 0.022) and the GAD scale score (p = 0.010) of the study participants. Conclusions Even though doctors can treat many mental health illnesses for a comparatively minimal cost, there is still a wide disparity between those who require care and those who have access to it. Governmental programs and regulations that conduct routine surveys to identify anxiety and stress can lead to successful preventative strategies.
ABSTRACT
Background COVID-19 started in China and has spread throughout the world since December 2019. The pandemic has not only brought the risk of morbidity and mortality from infection but also psychological burden. Objective To find out the psychological impacts of COVID-19 on students from high schools, colleges and universities in Nepal, along with examining the association between socio-demographic and other related variables and level of anxiety in the students. Method This study sampled students from Nepal using convenience sampling and responded to a quantitative questionnaire that included the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and other basic information. Finally, 105 respondents were included in the final analysis (100% response rate). Convenient sampling technique was used to gather the sample. Result The results indicated that 18.1% of the respondents were experiencing severe anxiety, 22.9% moderate anxiety, and 25.7% mild anxiety. Moreover, females were more prone to anxiety as compared to males. The results of correlation analysis indicated that economic effects, and delays in academic activities, were positively associated with anxiety symptoms (p < .05). However, social support was negatively correlated with the level of anxiety (p < .001). Conclusion It is recommended that the mental health of students should be monitored during public health emergencies, such as this one. This study examines the psychological impacts of COVID-19 among the college students in Nepal. Copyright © 2020, Kathmandu University. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the measurement of invariance by sex, age, and educational level of an online version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale in a five-item version (GAD-5). Configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance were evaluated using data from 79,473 respondents who answered a mental health questionnaire during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. The sex variable was classified as male or female; age was categorized as minors, youth, young adults, adults, and older adults; and educational level was divided into basic, upper secondary, higher, and graduate education. To test for configural invariance, confirmatory factor models were constructed. For metric invariance, equality restrictions were established for the factor loadings between the construct and its items; for scalar invariance, equality restrictions were established between the intercepts; strict variance implied the additional restriction of the residuals. Statistical analysis was performed in R software with the lavaan package. The results show that with respect to sex, age, and educational level, configural and metric measurement invariance was confirmed (ΔCFI < 0.002; ΔRMSEA < 0.015). However, with respect to scalar and strict invariance, the results showed significant differences regarding the fit model (ΔCFI > 0.002; ΔRMSEA > 0.015). We conclude that the GAD-5 presents configural and metric invariance for sex, age, and educational level, and scalar invariance for sex and age groups. However, the scale does not demonstrate strict invariance. We discuss the implications and suggest that this result could be related to the evaluation of sociodemographic variables.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has brought a serious impact on physical and mental health. Objective(s): The purpose of the present study was to estimate the impact of the first lockdown in Greece, on both quality of life and anxiety levels in different occupational groups. Method(s): A cross-sectional on- line survey was conducted from 20th of April to 4th of May 2020. A 24-item anonymous questionnaire was administered to collect basic demographic and socioeconomic data. The 5-item WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5, 0-100%, cut-off 52%) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) tools were used to assess well-being and anxiety, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS for Windows v.24.0 Statistical Package. Result(s): A total of 575 participated in the study, 62.8% females, 48.5% aged between 40 to 59 years. 32.5% were employed in education sector, 32.5% in health sector and 20.3% as season workers in tourism sector. Males showed slightly higher levels of wellbeing (52.1 vs. 47.3, p=0.023) and lower levels of anxiety (7.1 vs. 8.2, p=0.023) compared to females. Factors associated with higher wellbeing and lower anxiety were higher education and income level, optimism, taking less protection measures, and being seasonal worker. Furthermore, participants with comorbidities and symptoms like headache, musculoskeletal pain, as well as feeling depressed or stressed revealed lower wellbeing and higher anxiety scores. Conclusion(s): Our study revealed an overall poor wellbeing and mild to moderate levels of anxiety during the lockdown. Actions should be taken to address and to prevent its serious impact on mental health.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique set of stressors for healthcare professionals across the globe.1 The challenges facing intensive care workers in the United Kingdom (UK) have not previously been seen on this scale. There is a dearth of research establishing the psychological impact of the virus among intense care workers specifically, who may be at the greatest risk of adverse outcomes. Protecting the psychological wellbeing of healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 is essential for the long-term capacity of the health workforce. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to establish the prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among a cohort of intensive care workers within the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was designed to incorporate validated screening tools for anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale, GAD-7),2 depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9)3 and post-traumatic stress disorder (Impact of Event Scale-Revised, IES-R).4 Participants were also asked to highlight any factors in particular that contributed significantly to their own perceived mental health status. Additionally, awareness of any available mental health support services was established. All intensive care workers at the Countess of Chester Hospital, UK, were eligible and data was collected over a three week period during the months of June and July 2020 Results: The majority of the 131 respondents were nurses (52.7% [69/131]) or doctors (32.8% [43/141]). Almost onethird (29.8% [39/131]) reported a significant or extreme impact of COVID-19 on their mental health. In total, 16% (21/131) had symptoms of moderate depression, 11.5% (15/131) moderately severe depression and 6.1% (8/131) severe depression. Females had a significantly higher mean PHQ-9 score than males (8.8 and 5.68 respectively, p=0.009). Furthermore, 18.3% (24/131) had moderate anxiety with 14.5% (19/131) having severe anxiety. Mean GAD-7 scores were higher among females than males (8.69 and 6.26 respectively, p=0.028). Additionally, 28.2% (37/ 131) had symptoms of PTSD (IES-R ≥33). The most commonly cited contributory factors to participants' selfrated impact on mental health, was the effect of COVID-19 on family (78.6% [103/131]) followed by being busier at work (60.3% [79/131]), the personal risk of contracting COVID-19 (56.5% 74/131]), change in working environment (51.1% [67/131]) and change in working hours (43.5% [57/131]). The majority (58% [76/131]) of participants were either unaware or only vaguely aware of available mental health support services. Surprisingly, only 3.1% (4/131) had accessed support services at the time of data collection. Conclusion: The psychological impact of COVID-19 on intensive care workers is significant. Healthcare systems are currently ill-prepared to cope with the increased demand for support5. Specific focus and attention must be directed accordingly in order to safeguard the mental health of this key sector of the workforce, who play a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19. Determining and acknowledging the scale of the problem is the first step towards achieving this.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Research has shown that patients with CF and their families have an increased risk of anxiety and/or depression. This substudy, part of a multicentre observational trial, investigated the psychosocial impact of 6 months of treatment with Symkevi® in adult CF patients. Methods: The Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire (CFQ-R), Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) were completed at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with Symkevi®. Results: Of 42 subjects (median age: 29.3 years;28M/14F) included in the initial trial, 21 patients completed the CFQ-R and 25 patients completedthe GAD-7 and PHQ-9. The scores in the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were not significantly different between baseline and 6 months (p = 0.55;p = 0.51, resp.). No significant differences were observed between the CFQ-R domains except for "social functioning." For this domain, the median scores improved from median 55.56% (IQR: 50.00%;73.61%) to 72.22% (IQR: 65.28%;83.33%) (p = 0.001). Patients with an increased social functioning also had an increased FEV1 after 6 months (p = 0.02). Conclusion: These findings indicate that 6 months of treatment with Symkevi® improves social functioning among adult CF patients.We did not see a difference in anxiety or depression. Further research is required to investigate whether longer treatment with Symkevi® will have an influence on anxiety and/or depression. In addition, the current results did not account for a possible impact of local COVID-19 restrictions
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The prevalence of insomnia and other sleep disorders increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. While general anxiety, which increased during the pandemic, may account for some of the rise in sleep complaints, other factors may also contribute to insomnia. Here, we examined the potential contribution of fear of dying from the novel coronavirus on the severity of insomnia. We hypothesized that those endorsing a high fear of dying specifically from COVID-19 within 12 months of their assessment would demonstrate more severe insomnia. Methods: From April 2020 through October 2021, 13,298 U.S. participants (18-92 years old;57.5% female) completed a online survey (~1,000 participants per month) that included an assessment of their perceived likelihood of dying from COVID in the next year, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale-7 (GAD-7), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). We examined insomnia over the course of the first year of the pandemic and divided the sample into those who endorsed at least a 50% or greater perceived likelihood that they would die from COVID-19 in the next year versus those who endorsed a less than 50% perceived likelihood of dying from the illness. Results: Fear of dying (50% chance or higher) was associated with higher ISI scores (p<.00001) and tended to decline over the course of the year (p<.00001). A significant month x fear interaction (p=.021) suggested that individuals who believed they would die within the year showed significantly fluctuations in insomnia over the course of 13 months with peaks around June and October 2020. Even accounting for situational anxiety (GAD-7), those with a fear of dying still demonstrated higher insomnia levels than their counterparts (p<.00001). Conclusion: Self-perceived likelihood of dying from COVID-19 in the near future was associated with significantly elevated severity of insomnia, and this remained true even when controlling for a clinical assessment of generalized anxiety levels. These findings suggest that fear of succumbing to the novel coronavirus contributed significantly to the severity of sleep problems during the first year of the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental health distress among health care professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of COVID-19 on medical students interested in obstetrics and gynecology at medical schools in two early epicenters of COVID-19. METHODS: This study was approved by the Weill Cornell Medicine Institutional Review Board. An online questionnaire was distributed to allopathic medical students in Washington and New York. The survey assessed mental health from March to April 2020 via the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, and questions on self-rated mental health. RESULTS: Out of 1,139 students who completed the survey, 63 reported a plan to pursue residency training in obstetrics and gynecology. Forty-six (74%) reported an overall deterioration in mental health, 34 (59%) reported depressive symptoms, and 38 (65%) reported anxiety symptoms. Seventeen (28%) students met criteria for major depressive disorder and 16 (27%) for anxiety disorder. Twenty-three (37%) reported at least one close contact with symptoms or diagnosis of COVID-19 and 7 (11%) reported at least one close contact with COVID-19-related death. Commonly cited self-care tactics included staying in touch with friends/family (92%), entertainment (81%), and fitness (65%). When compared to the overall population of students, there were no significant differences in responses for students interested in obstetrics and gynecology. CONCLUSION: Students in this study experienced high levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Medical trainees are already at an increased risk for depression and anxiety relative to the general population, making it critical for medical schools to understand students' perspectives and prioritize mental health.
ABSTRACT
Healthcare professionals, especially those who work in hospitals that treat patients with Coronavirus infection (CoviD-19), are at a higher risk of contracting this disease than workers in other departments. Healthcare workers are under a lot of stress as they fight the CoviD-19 outbreak, which increases their risk of developing psychological difficulties. As a result, ill-prepared healthcare workers can lead to delayed diagnosis, disease spread, and poor infection control. An evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Psychological Effects in light of the CoviD-19 pandemic in Libya may indicate effective strategies for behavioral change in a given society and may assess the psychological state of healthcare workers during that crisis. At present, Libyan healthcare workers are not well aware of the risks. Healthcare workers participated in a web-based cross-sectional survey during the CoviD-19 pandemic in 2020. The KAP questions are imported from Egyptian study and the psychological impact questions are imported from Chinese study that used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire and insomnia Severity index. Questions are adapted to be suitable for the Libyan context. The Knowledge, attitude and perception were analyzed using a total score based on Bloom's 80% cut-off. According to our results, in total, we received 85.4% high knowledge score of Libyan HCWs in regards to CoviD-19. About 54.6% participants showed negative attitude towards CoviD-19 infection and the precautionary measures taken to prevent its spread. The majority of respondents, 89.1%, felt that they were vulnerable to CoviD-19 infection. 85.4% believed they were more likely than others to become infected. Fear of transmission to family members, having chronic illnesses, and community stigma are the most frequently reported reasons for higher risk perceptions. in general, HCWs had a good understanding of CoviD-19. Negative attitudes are evident in the observations a high level of risk perception was evident. it is vital that the Libyan Ministry of Health and government consider the reasons for increased risk perception. Healthcare workers, specifically those who are responding to CoviD-19 in Libya, experienced an increase in anxiety, depression and insomnia, which were respectively 30.1%, 31.9% and 18.9%. in this study, many Healthcare workers reported adequate overall knowledge with a negative attitude toward government and adopted appropriate practices. Psychological problems are directly related to inadequate knowledge, incorrect attitudes, and inadequate perception. However, with timely interventions and correct information, it will be possible to protect the mental wellbeing of healthcare professionals during the novel coronavirus epidemic.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine how various stressors related to COVID-19 impacted the patient experience during fertility treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous survey was distributed to patients at a private fertility clinic via the patient portal. Survey questions investigated patient demographics and feelings of anxiety regarding COVID-19 related stressors. Baseline levels of anxiety were measured by GAD-7, a 7-question generalized anxiety disorder scale. Patient confidence in their fertility treatment and potential changes to their treatment plan due to COVID-19 were assessed. Responses ranged from “not at all” to “all of the time”. Survey responses were analyzed at two different points, on Feb 5th with 290 participants and April 11th with 647 to determine average response and response frequencies. RESULTS: Of the initial 290 participants, 89% were women with an average age of 33.8. 58.9% reported pursuing fertility treatment for at least a year. The average GAD-7 Anxiety Severity Score for this cohort was 5.79, indicating an overall feeling of mild anxiety among respondents. 59% of respondents reported COVID-19 health concerns as one of their causes of stress, but only 29% reported considering or ultimately delaying treatment due to the pandemic. The data was again analyzed with 647 participants, of whom 80% were women with an average age of 34.5. 47.8% reported pursuing fertility treatment for at least a year. The average GAD-7 Anxiety Severity Score was 5.01 for this cohort, indicating a reduced overall feeling of mild anxiety. 52% of respondents reported COVID-19 health concerns as one of their causes of stress, but only 17% reported considering or deciding to delay treatment due to the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals struggling to conceive often report feelings of depression and anxiety. Over the past year, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to cause increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression across almost all populations. For those already experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety prior to the pandemic, the effect of increased stress and worry may have detrimental effects on health outcomes. While the cause-and-effect relationship between stress and infertility is still unclear, it is important to consider how the COVID-19 pandemic leads to increased distress among infertility patients and how this may impact perceived treatment outcomes. In comparing results between data collection on Feb. 5th and April 11th, it appears that patients may be experiencing a reduction in stress regarding COVID-19. As the pandemic continues to evolve in terms of vaccine, treatment, and spread mitigation plans, patients continue to be resilient in adapting to COVID-19. Being aware of the increased levels of stress and anxiety experienced by patients during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis can help healthcare providers alleviate some of these worries. IMPACT STATEMENT: Various stressors, particularly during COVID-19 may impact a patient's experience in their fertility treatment, allowing healthcare providers an opportunity to help mitigate these during care.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Medical teachers have been experienced different kinds of psychological stress and anxiety during COVID-19 .The pandemic has not only affected the mental state of students , since teachers have also accumulated a high level of stress since beginning of crisis .This stress has often been accompanied by symptoms of anxiety ,depression and sleep disturbances as consequence of the increased workload resulting from home teaching. Aim: The aim of study was to investigate the stress, anxiety and depression on medical teachers during COVID-19. Materials and methods: The study was carried out in Saveetha medical college. An online survey was conducted and disturbuted to the medical teachers via the google forms containing questionnaire session. The level of stress measures based on the 10 items perceived stress scale .The level of anxiety was measured based on the 7 items generalized anxiety disorder scale. Results: A total of 370 participants responded to perceived stress component of survey of whom 17% had high stress, 67% had moderate stress, 15% had low perceived stress. Being female was significantly associated with moderate /high stress. A Total of 201 participants responded to generalized anxiety disorder component of the survey ,of whom had mild anxiety (28%), had moderate anxiety (39%) and 46% had severe anxiety .A total of 169 participants responded to the depression component of survey of whom 72% had high depression 18% low depression. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of medical teachers stress and anxiety during COVID-19 outbreak .There a need to establish mechanisms to reduce the risks of stress and anxiety among medical teachers.
ABSTRACT
Background: The prolonged global threat imposed by covid 19 pandemic's first and second wave has created immense stress among the breast cancer due to interruptions of standard oncological care. The frequent lockdown imposed had tremendous impact on the patients' financial status and posed hinderance in transportation to oncological centre. In our hospital, majority of the treatment population are from distant places and below poverty line. We conducted a questionnaire based study to assess the psychological impact in this situation affecting their quality of life(QOL) and their perspective in this current situation. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Breast cancer patients who had been diagnosed and registered in our department from 1st January to 1stApril 2020 before the covid out break were tracked from the medical records. The patients details, disease status dates of follow up and the treatment details were collected.Defaulted patients were contacted.Post one year, in April 2021, these patients were assessed clinically and questioned regarding the treatment perspective. Psychological status and health related quality of life were analysed with GAD-7 (Generalised anxiety disorder questionnaire), PHQ-9 (patient health questionnaire) and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Results:A total of 202 breast cancer patients were included. 83 patients(41%) were diagnosed with early breast cancer of which 67(33%) patients were started on Sadjuvant chemotherapy after surgery, 16 (8%)were registered for hormonal therapy. 54(27%) patients with locally advanced, were on neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 65(32%)had metastatic disease at presentation. 23 of 65 metastatic patients were in visceral crisis and were on supportive management for the same. 35 patients had been started on palliative chemotherapy. Out of the 156 patients who had been in initiated with various chemotherapy, only 62(31%) patients were able to review at correct interval for the scheduled chemotherapy. 45 patients(22%) reviewed in the day care irregularly. Among the 45, 28 patients had locally advanced breast cancer and 22 patients had clinical progression due to prolonged gap. 38 patients(19%) had defaulted completely.Of the 38, 16 had advanced disease and presented with clinical progression of disease and switched to second line chemotherapy. 15 patients progressed to have distant metastases and are started on palliative chemotherapy or supportive care. 7 patients who were on adjuvant chemotherapy are kept under close follow up. 11 patients with metastatic breast cancer had died during the past one year. 3 patients had committed suicide.112(55 %) patients were within the city. 71 patients(35%) were from suburban areas. 19 patients(10%) were from adjacent rural areas. 113(56%) were educated.176 (87 %) were desperate to continue treatment inspite of pandemic, while remaining patients main concern was to avoid infection than to get oncological management. While the most common reason for defaulting was travel restrictions, few also documented financial issues and ignorance about progression of cancer. 46 (22%)of patients who had been visiting the day care had turned covid positive. Except for 2 patients who succumbed to the infection, none had major complications. 51%, 42%, 7% had mild, moderate and severe anxiety. 69%, 25%, 6% had mild, moderate and severe depression. The severe anxiety and depression was significant with metastatic breast cancer and educated patients. There were 3 suicides. The overall heath score had a mean of 4. The overall QOL had a mean score of 3 (1-very poor to 7-excellent). CONCLUSION: In patients who were already psychologically affected by onset of cancer, the chaos created by the pandemic added to it further. Hence the patients also need counseling appropriately during oncological treatment.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress and anxiety for pregnant women worldwide. We examined the anxiety symptom in Japanese women during pregnancy using a self-administered questionnaire under the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Between April 2020 and March 2021 (2020, the COVID-19 pandemic), we asked 248 Japanese women without history of mental disorders who delivered singleton neonates at 37-41 weeks' gestation to answer the two-item generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-2) at first, second, and third trimesters of gestation. We also asked 311 women with the same situation between January 2019 and December 2019 (2019) as control. RESULTS: The women with anxiety symptom were common during the first trimester of gestation irrespective of COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the proportion of the women with anxiety symptom decreased as the trimester of pregnancy progressed (p < 0.01); however, in 2020, the proportion of women with anxiety symptom did not decrease during pregnancy. During the late pregnancy, the proportions of women with anxiety symptom in 2020 were significantly higher than those in 2019 (p < 0.01) regardless of maternal parity or age in Japan. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to prevent the decrease in anxiety symptom that should decrease as pregnancy progresses regardless of maternal parity or age in Japan.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Medical residents' direct contact with patients with COVID-19 places them at high risk of psychological disturbance. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms, and their relationship with the COVID-19 pandemic among medical residents in KSA. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March of 2021. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) were used to screen for depressive disorders and generalized anxiety disorder, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 533 medical residents participated in the study; 52% were men, and 58% were single. Most residents had direct contact with one or more patients with COVID-19. The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms was 65.8% and 58.3%, respectively. The study revealed that gender was a risk factor for diagnosis with COVID-19 among residents: male residents were diagnosed with COVID-19 to a greater extent than female residents. In addition, being a nonsmoker rather than a smoker was associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 diagnosis. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that gender (female) and residency level (R5) were independently associated with anxiety symptoms. Similarly, the independent correlates of depression symptoms were gender (female) and specialty (family medicine). CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms was found among medical residents trained in KSA. The rates were significantly higher among female than male residents.
ABSTRACT
Anxiety symptoms are common among adolescents. A well-validated and easy-to-use tool is indispensable to measure and detect anxiety for timely interventions. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 item (GAD-7) is a self-report scale used to measure the severity of anxiety and has been validated in adult populations, but psychometric properties of the GAD-7 remained rarely tested in adolescents. The study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the GAD-7 in Chinese adolescents. Sex- and age-specific analyses were conducted in a large sample of adolescents (n = 67,281, aged 10-17 years). Our results showed that the GAD-7 scores were higher in female and older adolescents. The GAD-7 presented good internal consistency and a unidimensional structure across sex- and age-specific groups. The GAD-7 scores were significantly correlated with the scores of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9, a self-reported scale to measure depression symptoms) in all subgroups, indicating acceptable criterion validity. In conclusion, the GAD-7 is a scale with good psychometrics and can serve as a tool for anxiety screening in Chinese adolescents at the populational level.