Meta-Analytic Evidence of Depression and Anxiety in Eastern Europe during the COVID-19 Pandemic

ObjectiveTo perform a systematic and meta-analysis on the prevalence rates of mental health symptoms including anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population in Eastern Europe, as well as three select sub-populations: students, general healthcare workers, and frontline healthcare workers. Data sourcesStudies in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Psycinfo, and medRxiv up to February 6, 2021. Eligibility criteria and data analysisPrevalence rates of mental health symptoms in the general population and key sub-populations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Europe. Data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence rates of anxiety and depression. ResultsThe meta-analysis identifies and includes 21 studies and 26 independent samples in Eastern Europe. Poland (n=4), Serbia (n=4), Russia (n=3), and Croatia (n=3) had the greatest number of studies. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted in eleven Eastern European countries including Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The pooled prevalence of anxiety in 18 studies with 22 samples was 30% (95% CI: 24% - 37%) and pooled prevalence of depression in 18 studies with 23 samples was 27% (95% CI: 21% - 34%). ImplicationsThe cumulative evidence from the meta-analysis reveals high prevalence rates of clinically significant symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Europe. The findings suggest evidence of a potential mental health crisis in Eastern Europe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our synthesis also reveals a relative lack of studies in certain Eastern European countries as well as high heterogeneities among the existing studies, calling for more effort to achieve evidence-based mental healthcare in Eastern Europe. HighlightsO_LIThe pooled prevalence of anxiety and depression were 30% and 27% in Eastern Europe, respectively. C_LI Trial registrationCRD42020224458

Prevalence and Predictors of General Psychiatric Disorders and Loneliness during COVID-19 in the United Kingdom: Results from the Understanding Society UKHLS

Despite ample research on the prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders during COVID-19, we know little about how the pandemic affects the general wellbeing of a wider population. The study investigates the prevalence and predictors of general psychiatric disorders measured by the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and frequency of loneliness during COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, a country heavily hit by the pandemic. We analyzed 15,530 respondents of the first large-scale, nationally representative survey of COVID-19 in a developed country, the first wave of Understanding Society COVID-19 Study. Results show that 29.2% of the respondents score 4 or more, the caseness threshold, on the general psychiatric disorder measure, and 35.86% of the respondents sometimes or often feel lonely. Regression analyses show that those who have or had COVID-19-related symptoms are more likely to develop general psychiatric disorders and are lonelier. Women and people in their 20s have higher risks of general psychiatric disorders and loneliness, while having a job and living with a partner are protective factors. This study showcases the general psychiatric disorders and loneliness of broader members of the society during COVID-19 and the underlying social disparities.