The impact of COVID-19 on treatment seeking and interest in internet-based therapy for anxiety-related disorders: An interrupted time-series analysis.
Psychiatry Res
; 320: 115044, 2023 02.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2165774
ABSTRACT
AIMS:
To examine whether the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a change in demand for psychiatric treatment, interest in internet-based therapy, and differences in treatment requests by self-reported diagnoses (e.g., Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder).METHODS:
Using an interrupted time series design, we analyzed intake questionnaires of treatment-seeking patients (N = 1,954) at an anxiety treatment center between June 6, 2019 through September 13, 2021.RESULTS:
The change in general treatment-seeking from before to immediately after the global pandemic declaration was not statistically significant. However, there was a steady increase in treatment seeking, with a more pronounced increase from 2020 into 2021. Interest in internet-based therapy increased significantly after the onset of COVID-19. The number of treatment-seeking individuals who self-reported "concerns or diagnoses" of PTSD increased significantly.CONCLUSION:
The study supports anecdotal reports from clinics across the country about unprecedented demand for services. It highlights that many patients experienced an immediate impact of the pandemic on their self-reported concerns about trauma and PTSD symptoms, which has important clinical implications. It also highlights a shifting openness to internet-based services during the pandemic.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Psychiatry Res
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.psychres.2022.115044
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