ABSTRACT
This review summarizes the developmental epidemiology of childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders. It discusses the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, sex differences, longitudinal course, and stability of anxiety disorders in addition to recurrence and remission. The trajectory of anxiety disorders-whether homotypic (ie, the same anxiety disorder persists over time) or heterotypic (ie, an anxiety disorder shifts to a different diagnosis over time) is discussed with regard to social, generalized, and separation anxiety disorders as well as specific phobia, and panic disorder. Finally, strategies for early recognition, prevention, and treatment of disorders are discussed.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Panic Disorder , Phobic Disorders , Adolescent , Humans , Female , Male , Child , COVID-19/epidemiology , Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology , Anxiety Disorders/therapy , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Phobic Disorders/diagnosis , Phobic Disorders/epidemiology , Phobic Disorders/therapy , Panic Disorder/diagnosis , Panic Disorder/epidemiology , Anxiety, Separation/diagnosisSubject(s)
COVID-19 , Clonazepam/administration & dosage , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Fear/psychology , Stress, Psychological , Anxiety/diagnosis , Anxiety/etiology , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Child , Diagnosis, Differential , Dreams/psychology , Female , GABA Modulators/administration & dosage , Humans , Panic Disorder/diagnosis , Phobic Disorders/diagnosis , SARS-CoV-2 , Social Media , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Stress, Psychological/therapy , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Anxiety , COVID-19 , Internet Use/statistics & numerical data , Panic Disorder , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Social Isolation/psychology , Stress, Psychological , Anxiety/diagnosis , Anxiety/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Fear , Financial Stress/psychology , Humans , Information Seeking Behavior , Mental Health/statistics & numerical data , New York/epidemiology , Panic Disorder/diagnosis , Panic Disorder/epidemiology , Physical Distancing , SARS-CoV-2 , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/diagnosis , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Stress, Psychological/epidemiology , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Unemployment/psychologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The current study aimed to assess prevalence of mental disorders during Covid-19 pandemic- and respective lockdown in Germany, and potential behaviors/states that can have protective functions on preventing severe mental problems. Assessing prevalence of mental disorders, as well as to find potential protective variables is very important in order to determine people's psychological suffering. It provides the basis for teaching possible coping styles in order to prevent a major breakdown on mental health. Prevalence on mental disorders was expected to increase during the pandemic, especially depression, (general-/and health-) anxiety, panic attacks- and disorder, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Additionally, potentially protective variables, such as resilience and coping, were included. METHODS: N = 949 subjects completed an online-survey that asked for symptoms regarding depression, (health) anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and lock-down related behavior-starting 14 days after lockdown in Germany. RESULTS: Prevalence of mental disorders in the current sample was much higher than usual prevalence of mental disorders, with 50.6% expressing at least one mental disorder. Resilience was associated with lower risks for any mental disorder (OR = 4.23, p < .0001, 95%CI = 3.21-5.57), as well as with any other measured mental illness (all ORs between = 2.82 for obsessive-compulsive disorder and OR = 41.44 for panic disorder, all p < .001). Similar results were obtained regarding coping (focus on positive). CONCLUSION: Results are highly relevant in order to provide a glance on what substantial influence the current pandemic- and lockdown situation has on mental health across the country, and possibly across the world. Possible ways in order to prevent deterioration and help coping with the current situation are being elaborated and discussed.