ABSTRACT
Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the constant transformation of the SARS-COV-2 virus form, exposure to substantial psychosocial stress, environmental change, and isolation have led to the inference that the overall population's mental health could be affected, resulting in an increase in cases of psychosis. Objective(s): We initiated a systematic review to determine the impact of the SARS-COV-2 virus and its long-term effects-in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases-on people with or without psychosis. We envisioned that this would give us an insight into effective clinical intervention methods for patients with psychosis during and after the pandemic. Method(s): We selected fifteen papers that met our inclusion criteria, i.e., those that considered participants with or without psychiatric illness and exposed to SARS-COV-2 infection, for this review and were retrieved via Google, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PsychINFO Database. Key Gap: There is a dearth of research in understanding how COVID-19 affects people with or without a prior personal history of psychosis. Result(s): The systematic review summary provides insight into the state of knowledge. Insights from the systematic review have also been reviewed from the salutogenesis model's perspec-tive. There is moderate evidence of new-onset psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in which some antipsychotics treated the psychotic symptoms of patients while treating for COVID-19. Suggestions and recommendations are made for preventive and promotive public health strategies. Conclusion(s): The Salutogenesis model and Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI) provide another preventive and promotive public health management approach.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
Context Anxiety is one of the mood changes that occur postcoronavirus disease-2019 (post-COVID-19) and interfere with patients' daily activity. After supposed clinical and radiological improvement to COVID-19, some still experience somatic complaints such as sensation of dyspnea. Aims Evaluating the relation between COVID-19 survivors and anxiety and to what extent this could affect their functional status. Settings and design Ain Shams University Hospital, survey study. Patients and methods The survey included 120 patients post-COVID-19 one month or more and free symptoms attending Ain Shams University Hospitals Chest Outpatient Clinic for follow-up, 45% of them were in the age group 35-55 years, 56.7% were females, 78.3% had high education, and 27.5% were smokers. All included study participants were subjected to computed tomography of chest, oxygen saturation, State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Arabic version, and Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) Dyspnea Scale. chi 2 -test (or Fisher's exact test) was used to compare data between different groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between the features of individuals and their degree of anxiety. Results The most annoying COVID-19 symptoms as reported by this study participants were body pains (32.5%). About 61.7% of participants had high-state anxiety and 51.7% had high-trait anxiety. The age group 20-34 years was significantly associated with higher frequency of moderate or high-state anxiety (P0.05), male sex was significantly associated with lower frequency of moderate or high-state anxiety compared with females (P0.05). Conclusions Age and sex were important association factors with the prevalence of anxiety in post-COVID-19 patients. Higher grades of dyspnea were associated with higher probability of development of moderate or severe post-COVID anxiety.Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate factors affecting the anxiety and pain of patients undergoing colonoscopy during the COVID-19 period. Material(s) and Method(s): Before the colonoscopy, patients aged 18-80 years were asked to fill out the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale (STAI), along with a personal data form in which demographic data and medical history were questioned, and their pain was questioned with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The pain was questioned in patients who underwent colonoscopy under sedoanalgesia according to VAS after full recovery (Modified Aldrete Score >=8). Result(s): Three hundred and thirty patients (M/F=53/47) with a mean age of 53.41+/-14.75 years participated in the study. 22.7% of the patients had COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 vaccine was administered to 47.6% of the patients. 85.5% were concerned about COVID-19 transmission during colonoscopy. The mean STAI-S (STAI-State) was 47.49+/-8.86, and STAI-T (STAI-Trait) was 39.84+/-8.94 in the patients. The mean VAS score was 2 (0-10) before colonoscopy and 4 (0-10) after colonoscopy. There was no difference in STAI-S, STAI-T, pre and post-colonoscopy VAS scores between those who had COVID-19 and those who did not (p=0.134, p=0.155, p=0.891, p=0.953). There was no difference in STAI-S, STAI-T, and VAS scores between those vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and those not vaccinated (p=0.127, p=0.527, p=0.932, p=0.983). Gender, educational status, STAI-S, STAI-T scores, and colonoscopy waiting time affected VAS scores. Discussion(s): Being infected with COVID-19 and being vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine are not among the factors affecting patients' anxiety and pain.Copyright © 2023, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID-19 is connected with varying degrees of emotional stress. Patients (pts) who are hospitalized with severe COVID-19 (C19) are located in single rooms without a permanent attendant to prevent contamination. All personnel serving these pts come into contact with patients with personal full-body protective garment. Ambulatory C19 pts, usually with less severe presentation, are treated in more comfortable conditions. Purpose(s): To evaluate the impact of the psychosocial changing conditions on individuals' psyche and to analyse the differences in terms of experienced anxiety and depression among the ambulatory and hospital patients referred to post-C19 cardiology consultation. Method(s): The study involved 388 pts with persistent cardiovascular symptoms, including 198 ambulatory patients (130 females and 68 males) and 190 hospital patients (128 females and 62 males) referred to the cardiology consultation (mean age 4.9+/-12.9 and 50.5+/-14.4 years, respectively). The data were collected using the specially designed questionnaire related to descriptive characteristics of the patients and to standardized questionnaires: The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). Result(s): Abnormal psychological metrics was common in the study pts. Indicators of anxiety were lower in the ambulatory than in hospitalized pts (p<0.001). Depression level was also lower in the ambulatory pts (p<0.001). The same differences were statistically significant in both female and male pts subsets. However, anxiety and depression were more pronounced among female than male pts. Very strong positive correlation was observed between anxiety - state and depression among ambulatory patients, both females and males (p<0.05). Conclusion(s): C19 convalescents with persistent symptoms of presumed cardiovascular origin present with abnormal psychological traits including increased anxiety and depression especially in individuals requiring hospital treatment. For this reason, it is necessary to plan the interventions particularly in hospitalized pts to reduce their anxiety and depression levels and to create psychological support programs.
ABSTRACT
Background: People's concerns about both health and emerging social life significantly affected not only their physical but also mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients those with chronic diseases such as asthma are more vulnerable about the outcomes of the pandemic. We aim to evaluate the anxiety and quality of life(QoL) of adolescents and their parents who were followed up with the diagnosis of asthma during the pandemic comparing with age-matched control group. Method(s): This study was conducted after the first lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic, namely new normalization period. Demographic features were noted, all adolescents completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children(STAI-C) state and trait scales, and Pediatric QoL inventories(PedsQL). Parents also fulfilled PedsQL parent version, STAI state and trait scales. Asthma control test(ACT) was completed by only asthma group. Result(s): Totally 121 adolescents(61 asthma group[59% female];60 control group[73.8% female]) were included into the study. The mean age of the patients was 15.4(+1.69) and their parents was 41.52(+6.04) years. The comparative demographic and general characteristics of the patients are shown in Table 1. There were no significant difference in terms of PedsQL both child's and parent's perspective, STAI-C and STAI scores between study groups. In the asthma group 65.6% of the patients used asthma medications regularly and 73.8% of them continued asthma follow-up during the pandemic. The asthma group was divided into three subgroups according to asthma symptom control in Global Initiative for Asthma report (well-controlled, partly controlled, uncontrolled). The QoL was associated with asthma severity;PedsQL PH, PSH and TH scores were also significantly different according to the asthma control status, p value is < 0.001, 0.023 and 0.008, respectively. The uncontrolled asthma group had the lowest PedQL scores and also reached the highest STAI-C trait scores. Girls with asthma had significantly lower PedQL and ACT scores than boys. Conclusion(s): Although the quality of life and anxiety scores of children with asthma do not differ from control group, good asthma control in adolescents with asthma may improve QoL. Optimizing asthma treatment adherence and being aware of the difficulties that adolescents may experience during the pandemic is important. Clinicians should routinely enquire about mental health as well as physical health of patients with chronic diseases. (Table Presented).
ABSTRACT
Objective: We aimed to evaluate asthma control status, drug compliance and anxiety levels of children and their parents who were followed up with the diagnosis of asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): Sixty-seven children aged between 8-12 years diagnosed with asthma and their parents were prospectively recruited to the study. A questionnaire including demographic features such as age, gender, asthma medications and questions about COVID-19 prepared according to a 5-point Likert scale was conducted to the parents. Children completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children (STAI-C) scales, and childhood asthma control test(c-ACT). Parents also fulfilled STAI scales. Result(s): The mean age of the patients was 9.5+/-1.2 years, the median follow-up period for asthma (C-ACT) was 36 (21-66) months, and 45 (67.2%) were male. Most of the children were using their asthma medication regularly. Children's STAI-C state and trait anxiety scores showed a statistically significant positive correlation with parents' STAI state and trait anxiety scores. The anxiety levels of parents who thought that they would get the disease and that there would be no effective treatment and vaccine against COVID-19 were found to be higher. Conclusion(s): During the pandemic period, regular asthma follow-up and drug compliance are very important controlling asthma symptoms in children. Considering the effects of the pandemic in children with asthma, psychosocial evaluations during outpatient controls may have positive effects on children's mental health and disease control.Copyright © 2021 Ankara Pediatric Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study: The study aims to assess the severity level of depression and anxiety symptoms among the nursing staff active in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduction: Challenges in the daily work of medical personnel increased during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The hard and exhausting work of nurses under chronic stress may lead to the intensification of depression and anxiety symptoms. Social and psychological support for healthcare workers during this time is crucial. Material(s) and Method(s): 120 male and female nurses participated in the study, namely 98 women (81.7%) and 22 men (18.3%) who worked directly with infected or potentially infected persons. The study used a questionnaire developed for its purposes, collecting information on nurses' job at the time of the pandemic. Two standardized psychometric tools were used, i.e. Beck Depression Scale as well as State Inventory and STAI Anxiety Traits. Result(s): The obtained research results showed a significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well- -being of male and female nurses, causing an intensification of depression symptoms as well as changes in the state and traits of anxiety. The mean value of the severity of those symptoms was higher during the epidemic than before it. The greater the sense of security in the area of one's own private life, the smaller the increase in the severity of depression as well as in the state and traits of anxiety during the pandemic, as compared with the pre-pandemic conditions. Conclusion(s): COVID-19 pandemic has a significant negative impact on nurses' mental well-being. There is an urgent need to provide psychological support for nurses during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2022 Via Medica. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE In our study, it was aimed to compare the anxiety;state and trait anxiety states among the communities who went to health institutions for different purposes during the COVID-19 epidemic and to evaluate the factors affecting anxiety, state and trait anxiety. METHODS The data of this study were collected face to face using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) for cancer patients who applied to the Oncology center between October 2020 and December 2020. Their companions and the patients who went to a primary healthcare institution. Participants' awareness of the COVID pandemic and the effects of the pandemic on their lives and demographic information were also recorded. A total of 252 participants responded to the tests. RESULTS In our study, 252 people, including 130 (51.6%) cancer patients, 49 (19.4%) cancer patient companions, and 73 outpatients who applied to a primary healthcare institution, participated in our study. In all participants, the mean anxiety level according to BAI was 10.75+/-12.5 (0-48), the mean state anxiety according to STAI-S was 44.42+/-10.59 (20-74), according to STAI-T, the mean trait anxiety was found to be 45.65+/-8.80 (20-78) points. Among the three groups, the highest anxiety, state and trait anxiety was seen in patients who applied to primary healthcare institution. CONCLUSION In our study, many factors affecting the anxiety and anxiety levels of the patients and their relatives who applied to health institutions for different reasons, also under the influence of the pandemic, were determined. With such studies, the psychosocial conditions of the patients and their relatives should be closely followed in the event of the future epidemics, and psychological treatments and support needs should be kept in mind in addition to the primary treatment of their diseases.Copyright © 2023, Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology.
ABSTRACT
Objective: We aimed to evaluate asthma control status, drug compliance and anxiety levels of children and their parents who were followed up with the diagnosis of asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: Sixty-seven children aged between 8-12 years diagnosed with asthma and their parents were prospectively recruited to the study. A questionnaire including demographic features such as age, gender, asthma medications and questions about COVID-19 prepared according to a 5-point Likert scale was conducted to the parents. Children completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children (STAI-C) scales, and childhood asthma control test(c-ACT). Parents also fulfilled STAI scales. Results: The mean age of the patients was 9.5±1.2 years, the median follow-up period for asthma (C-ACT) was 36 (21-66) months, and 45 (67.2%) were male. Most of the children were using their asthma medication regularly. Children's STAI-C state and trait anxiety scores showed a statistically significant positive correlation with parents' STAI state and trait anxiety scores. The anxiety levels of parents who thought that they would get the disease and that there would be no effective treatment and vaccine against COVID-19 were found to be higher. Conclusion: During the pandemic period, regular asthma follow-up and drug compliance are very important controlling asthma symptoms in children. Considering the effects of the pandemic in children with asthma, psychosocial evaluations during outpatient controls may have positive effects on children's mental health and disease control.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The widespread lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was insured by Moroccan authorities in early 2020 to preserve the health of citizens. The lockdown and the pandemic imposed psychological effects on the population including anxiety. Celiac disease (CeD), a chronic disease among the most common inflammatory intestinal disorders, has been linked to adult emotional disturbances. Hence, CeD patients may suffer from anxiety or increase this condition due to the concomitant situation. The objective of this study was to assess COVID-19-related anxiety in a sample of adults with CeD in comparison with a matched healthy group. Method(s): CeD patients (103) and matched healthy group (101) were investigated using a web-based COVID-19 and related lockdown anxiety survey. Anxiety was assessed with the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI test: Y1 for state anxiety and Y2 for trait anxiety). Result(s): State anxiety was present among 65.3% of CeD and 41.6% of the comparison group, and the difference was statistically significant. CeD women suffered more from state anxiety than their compeers in the comparison group (t = 3.23;p = 0.002), and a significant correlation between good compliance to GFD and less state anxiety was found among CeD patients (r = 0.31;p = 0.002). 61.8% of CeD participants thought they were at higher risk of contamination by COVID-19, and they were mostly women (chi2 = 7.66, p < 0.006) and had significantly higher state anxiety mean scores than their compatriots who did not express these thoughts (t = 2.93;p = 0.004). Additionally, 41.5% of CeD participants had anxiety as a trait against 26.7% in the comparison group and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Conclusion(s): Results of this survey allow a better understanding of the health-related pandemic effects on Moroccan CeD patients. It demonstrates that COVID-19 and related lockdowns had a serious impact on the psychological balance of these patients by increasing their anxiety. The survey results underlined the need to improve the psychological care of CeD patients notably by considering remote medical visits during this ongoing pandemic to provide mental health support. Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel on behalf of NOVA National School of Public Health.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Adolescents with COVID-19 are usually asymptomatic or they have milder symptoms, but the psychological effects of the disease on adolescents is unknown. In our knowledge, to date no published studies have evaluated the anxiety status of adolescents with COVID-19 infection. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anxiety status of adolescents with COVID-19. Material(s) and Method(s): Eighteen adolescents hospitalized with moderate symptoms of COVID-19 and seventeen adolescents non hospitalized with mild symptoms of COVID-19 and 29 healthy adolescents were enrolled in the study. The State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire was performed to both groups and scores were compared. Result(s): The adolescents with COVID-19 had significantly higher anxiety scores in the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) (p:0.019) and the Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) (p:0.048) than healthy adolescents. Comparison of adolescents with mild and moderate symptoms showed no significant difference both in SAI (p:1.0) and TAI (p:0.98) scores. Conclusion(s): COVID-19 has a psychological impact on adolescents causing higher anxiety scores independent from the disease severity. Copyright © 2022 Ankara Pediatric Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: We aimed to evaluate asthma control status, drug compliance and anxiety levels of children and their parents who were followed up with the diagnosis of asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): Sixty-seven children aged between 8-12 years diagnosed with asthma and their parents were prospectively recruited to the study. A questionnaire including demographic features such as age, gender, asthma medications and questions about COVID-19 prepared according to a 5-point Likert scale was conducted to the parents. Children completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children (STAI-C) scales, and childhood asthma control test(c-ACT). Parents also fulfilled STAI scales. Result(s): The mean age of the patients was 9.5+/-1.2 years, the median follow-up period for asthma (C-ACT) was 36 (21-66) months, and 45 (67.2%) were male. Most of the children were using their asthma medication regularly. Children's STAI-C state and trait anxiety scores showed a statistically significant positive correlation with parents' STAI state and trait anxiety scores. The anxiety levels of parents who thought that they would get the disease and that there would be no effective treatment and vaccine against COVID-19 were found to be higher. Conclusion(s): During the pandemic period, regular asthma follow-up and drug compliance are very important controlling asthma symptoms in children. Considering the effects of the pandemic in children with asthma, psychosocial evaluations during outpatient controls may have positive effects on children's mental health and disease control. Copyright © 2021 Ankara Pediatric Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: The management of patients with immuno-rheumatological diseases has profoundly changed during the COVID 19 pandemic and telemedicine has played an important role in the disease follow-up. In addition to monitoring disease activity and any adverse events, especially infectious events, assessing the psychological situation of the patient can be fundamental in particular considering that COVID-19 has also a serious impact on mental health and it has been demonstrated a signifcantly higher incidence of anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms especially in younger people Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of depressive disorders, anxiety and fbromyalgia in our patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis during the lockdown period due to the COVID 19 pandemic and validate the use of telemedicine in the clinical management of these patients. Methods: Patients affected by rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis treated with biological disease-modifying drugs were contacted to evaluate the state of health and the presence of any adverse events and a nurse administered the clinimetric questionnaires assessment to evaluate the disease activity, the impact of rheumatic disease on the health status and the presence of anxiety, depression and fbromy-algia. In particular the following scales have been used: The Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID), the Psoriatic arthritis impact of disease (PsAID), Beck Depression Inventory BDI-II, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and The Fibromy-algia Rapid Screening Tool questionnaire (FIRST), The VAS scale for the assessment of pain. Patients who reported disease fare-up or adverse events underwent an outpatient visit and during visit Disease Activity Score (DAS 28) and Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) were used. Results: 171 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 129 patients with psoriatic arthritis were enrolled. The incidence of fbromyalgia was increased in the two groups during the lockdown compared to the previous evaluations and in particular in patients with psoriatic arthritis (AR p =0.013, AP p= 0.001).Our analysis did not report signifcant differences between the two groups for the presence of fbromyal-gia and anxiety-related disorders during lockdown, but a prevalence of depressive disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was observed.During lockdown in RA patients, (n=50), no correlation was found between DAS28 and RAID score (r=0.112, p=0.438) and in PsA patients (n=34), no correlation was found between DAPSA and PSAID score (r=0.131, p=0.459) while median value of RAID was higher in STAI I and II positive and median value of PSAID was higher in STAI I and II positive. Patients positive at BDI had higher RAID score (median 6.28 vs 1.14) and PSAID (median 4.95 vs 2.85) score (Mann Whitney p<0.001 and p=0.003) Conclusion: In conclusion, mental and physical stress during COVID-19 pandemic can greatly worsen FM symptoms and intensify the patients' suffering without a clinical fare of the infammatory disease for patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Telemedicine has allowed us to identify patients who needed a face-to-face approach for therapeutic reevaluation even if not related to a fare of the disease.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to compare the levels of anxiety and social support evaluated in pregnancy before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed prospectively and observationally. Participants were asked to fill in two different questionnaire forms for the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Independent t-test and Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. The mean age of 386 pregnant was 29.1 ± 4.91 years, and the gestational week was 29.12 ± 4.54. The values of the total social support scale were determined 61.52 ± 5.53-51.15 ± 5.86 before and during the pandemic, while the total state anxiety scale was found 39.81 ± 9.04 and 63.38 ± 10.55, respectively. The total trait anxiety scale was found at 38.23 ± 7.39 and 53.22 ± 8.74 in the same respect. A significant difference was obtained in the data between before and during the pandemic (p < .05). The study showed that pregnant are deprived of social support and their anxiety levels increase during the COVID-19 pandemic.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of depression and anxiety in pregnant women have been reported as 25.6 and 30.5%, respectively. Social support is an important determinant of physical and psychological well-being, especially during pregnancy when individuals take on new responsibilities and roles.What do the results of this study add? The study showed that pregnant women were deprived of social support and their anxiety levels increased during this pandemic. The results highlight that there is a high need to mitigate mental health risks and adjust interventions under pandemic conditions.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It is necessary to provide social support from family, friends, and close circles. States and health professionals need to put forward serious programs and studies to reduce the stress and anxiety experienced by the society and especially pregnant women and to provide accurate information about COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between the anxiety levels of children diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and who are hospitalized and their parents’ levels of depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and perceived social support. Methods: Childhood State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Perceived Social Support Scale were applied. The control group consisted of 56 children hospitalized in the general pediatric service with the diagnosis of acute bronchitis, pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, and their accompanying parents. Results: Children hospitalized with the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 had significantly higher CSTAI scores and their parents’ BDI and STAI scores. In both groups, there was a positive significant relationship between the anxiety levels of the children and their parents’ depression, hopelessness, and anxiety levels. Conclusion: With the pandemic, mental afflictions were inevitable in children, but studies examining the psychological effects of children and their parents who have been diagnosed with the disease and are hospitalized are limited. The findings of the study show that children hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 and their parents are more psychologically affected. This study can be a pioneer for more comprehensive studies and rehabilitation studies.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: University professors present several mental health-related symptoms, such as sleep disorders, anxiety and depression. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health practitioners and researchers observed a surge in depressive and anxious symptoms and worse sleep quality. Objective: To analyze factors associated with poor sleep quality among university professors during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A virtual questionnaire via Google Forms® platform was sent to professors via university working groups and e-mail lists. The instrument comprised questions about gender, age, self-isolation and specific questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI);State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI);Mental Health Index (MHI-5);Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). All of the participants signed an Informed Consent Term, and the research was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research (no. 4.036.797). The data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences® version 26.0 and a descriptive level criterion of 5% (p<0.05) was adopted. Results: A total of 96 participants participated in the study. Half of the participants (n=48) had poor sleep quality in the study. Using bivariate analysis, state-anxiety (p=0.014) and depressive symptoms (p=0.038) were the only factors associated with poor sleep quality. 52.1% of the sample had medium to high anxiety risk (STAI-S), and among them, 62.0% had poor sleep quality. 41.7% of the university professors had depressive symptoms, and from those, 62.5% were not sleeping well. In a binary logistic regression model, professors with depressive symptoms had a 2.39 times higher risk of poor sleep quality (p=0.040/ 95% CI: 1.04-5.50);and those with state-anxiety had a 2.78 times higher risk of poor sleep quality (p=0.015/ 95% CI: 1.22-6.37). Conclusion: In this study, the presence of state-anxiety or depressive symptoms were risk factors associated with the higher incidence of poor sleep quality among university professors.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected psychological health related to quality of life, anxiety, and alcohol use. To assess differences in pandemic response related to clinical status and sex, we used prospective data collected in a clinical sample of adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), HIV infection, or both diagnoses (AUD+HIV) and a control group. Methods: Data were collected between 2015-2018 during pre-COVID laboratory visits and later with an online survey to assess psychological health during COVID. Change scores (COVID score - pre- COVID score) evaluated differences in quality of life (QoL;Short-Form-21), state anxiety (State- Trait-Anxiety Inventory), and alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, AUDIT). Of the 218 participants we attempted to contact, 89 completed the survey. The clinical sample included 18 AUD (9M, 9F), 22 HIV (15M, 7F), and 15 AUD+HIV (6M, 9F);the Control group included 17M and 17F. Results: All groups reported decreases in QoL during COVID (X2 = 8.26, p = .04). Women in the clinical sample (regardless of diagnosis) reported an even greater decrease in QoL during COVID than clinical men (Z = 2.12, p = .016), control women (Z = 2.38, p = .017), or control men (Z = 2.41, p = .034). The greater decrease in QoL in clinical women was supported by analysis of the separate AUD, HIV, and AUD+HIV sub-samples. Regarding state anxiety, the clinical sample showed a greater increase during COVID than the control group (X2 = 5.64, p = .018). Regardless of group or sex, however, participants did not report significant change in pandemic alcohol use. Nonetheless, for clinical women, correlational analyses indicated that greater decline in QoL was related to increased anxiety (rho = -.49, p = .03) and increased alcohol use (rho = -.49, p = .02), and that increase in anxiety was related to increase in alcohol use (rho = .46, p = .04). By contrast, in clinical men, change in anxiety was related to change in QoL (rho = -.49, p = .02) but not alcohol use (rho = -.26, p = .24). Conclusions: Clinical men and women reported greater increase in anxiety and decrease in QoL than controls during COVID vs. pre-COVID assessment. The relation between increase in self-reported alcohol use and increased anxiety and decline in QoL in the clinical women suggests greater drinking-to-cope motivation to relieve emotional distress during COVID in women already burdened with a clinical diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, university education has shifted from face-to-face classes to online and distance learning. Effects of exposure may manifest in terms of psychological, cognitive, or musculoskeletal impairments that affect an individual's daily functioning and quality of life. There is a dearth of studies exploring anxiety states, occupational dysfunction, and mental health associated with the new standard of increased telecommunication. Accordingly, the present study aimed to identify the differences in occupational dysfunction, health literacy, positive and negative emotions, and stress response considering the anxiety states of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another purpose is to identify relationships among the parameters such as occupational dysfunction and mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 358 students (average age: 18.5 years, age range: 18-29 years). Five tools were used: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Classification and Assessment of Occupational Dysfunction (CAOD), European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47), Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition (POMS-2), and Stress Response Scale-18 (SRS-18). Based on the cutoff value of state and trait anxiety of the STAI, the participants were classified into four groups and compared using one-way analysis of variance and multiple comparison tests. The relationship between all parameters was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: The group with high trait anxiety and high state anxiety had the highest CAOD total score, Total Mood Disturbance score on the POMS-2, SRS-18 score, and scores on many sub-items of the three parameters. The prevalence of occupational dysfunction was 47% for university students, and there was a variation of from 19 to 61% in each group. The correlation coefficients of the state and trait anxiety scores of the STAI, Total Mood Disturbance score, and SRS-18 ranged from .64 to .75. Additionally, the correlation coefficient between the CAOD total score and these parameters ranged from .44 to .48. Conclusion: The prevalence of occupational dysfunction was highest in the group with high trait anxiety and high state anxiety, and occupational dysfunction, negative emotions, and stress responses were strongest in this group. Our findings point to potential areas for targeted support and interventions.
ABSTRACT
Methods: This cluster-randomized pilot compared 5-minute slow DB with treatment-as-usual among four 12th-grade public high school classes. Students individually participated in the curriculum after school during COVID-19-related hybrid teaching, with DB 3 times/week and breath science education once/week. Feasibility was based on overall compliance and qualitative assessments. Preliminary effectiveness was measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and a timed-exhale carbon dioxide tolerance test (CO2TT). Descriptive statistics and repeated analysis of variance were performed to quantify and compare cross-sectional and temporal outcomes between classes and time periods. Human subjects research approval was granted through WCG-IRB. Results: Forty-two students consented to participate. Intervention and effectiveness assessments' compliance varied from 29-91% across classes and weeks, and decreased on average 40% from baseline to follow-up. Compliance of ease/ tolerability assessments ranged from 41% to 86%, and averaged 55% for open-ended assessments. Usefulness, ease and tolerability ratings for the DB ranged from 1.63±0.74 to 2.88±0.35 on scales of 0-3 (“not at all” - “very much”);and from 2.24±0.84 to 2.60±0.55 for effectiveness assessments. Students reported enjoying the DB, CO2TT, and breath science;some found the extended exhales challenging and the curriculum and assessments time-consuming. Outcome measures demonstrated trends towards improvements (e.g., improved STAI and CO2TT before-to-after breathing exercises), but were not statistically significant. Background: Nearly 1 in 3 US adolescents meet the criteria for anxiety, an issue that has worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic. We developed a video-based, 5-week, slow diaphragmatic breathing (DB) stress-reduction curriculum for high school students and evaluated its feasibility and preliminary effectiveness. Conclusion: Implementation of this 5-week slow breathing curriculum was feasible and tolerable to this cohort. Compliance, tolerability, and effectiveness may be improved with in-class participation. Future research on simple and accessible slow-breathing exercises is warranted to address today's adolescent stress-management crisis.
ABSTRACT
Anxiety is one of the most common problems among nursing students. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is used to detect anxiety in this population; however, its length hinders speedy detection. For this reason, a faster and more efficient instrument is needed for early detection. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the anxiety measurement scales State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) by establishing a discrimination threshold through the contrast of true positive rates (VPR) and false positive rates (FPR). To this end, a cross-sectional quantitative observational and analytical study was carried out on 185 fourth-year nursing students. The data collected were anxiety (STAI and VAS-A) and socio-demographic variables during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed a correlation between the two scales (VAS-A and STAI). The VAS-A is a useful instrument for assessing students in a crisis that could potentially generate anxiety. The study established a reasonably safe error probability range (>5%), allowing the VAS-A scale to be used as a rapid diagnostic or pre-diagnostic tool, depending on the scores. The study shows that speedy detection of anxiety using the VAS-A and an in-depth approach with the STAI by teaching staff in crises is possible.