The effects of quarantine on anxiety and emotional symptoms. Results of an online survey

ABSTRACT

Background: Quarantines may exacerbate the presence of emotional symptoms or anxiety. Aim: To explore the relation between time spent in lockdown and development of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Material and Methods: A survey including the GAD anxiety and PHQ-9 depression scores was answered online by 1,488 subjects aged 36 +/- 14 years (74% women), invited to participate through social networks. Both scores are validated for the Chilean population. Results: Most responders had a private health insurance system. Sixty seven percent had clinically significant depressive symptoms and 39% had anxiety symptoms. Spending four or more weeks of lockdown (quarantine) was associated with 1.6 times higher risk of developing depressive symptoms and 2.9 times higher risk of developing anxiety symptoms. Difficulties in access to health care increased 3.3 times the risk of developing depression. Suffering a respiratory disease increased 2.39 times the risk of developing anxiety. Conclusions: There was a direct association between depressive and anxious symptoms, and the time spent of quarantine.