Global Rise of Depression Prevalence Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract The immense burden of depressive disorders is on the rise, with global prevalence estimates in 2017 ranging from 4% to 13%. The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is likely to impact the established risk factors for depressive disorders. Thus, a rapid increase in depression prevalence can be expected amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Using epidemiologic data (N=111,225) derived from an extant online survey “Measuring Worldwide COVID-19 Attitudes and Beliefs” (launched by Fetzer and colleagues, March-April 2020) in 178 countries, we examined age-dependent global prevalence of depression and assessed the impact of social factors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on depressive symptomatology. Point prevalence of depression was measured using the PHQ8 standard cut-off score (i.e., ≥10). Correlates of depressive symptoms were analyzed with hierarchical regression modeling separately in three age groups, i.e., 18-34, 35-54 and 55+ years. We found that nearly 20% of individuals globally revealed significant symptoms of depression, including 27% of young, 15% middle-aged, 9% adults aged 55+. These data suggest that the prevalence of depression is 2-5 times higher than global estimates preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. Regression modeling explained approx. 50% variability in depressive symptoms across the three age groups. Increased risk of depression was found in females, single or divorced individuals, and those who presented poorer health and higher anxiety. Social restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic were marginal risks for depression. Together, this study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of people of different ages and urges the development of increased access to psychological interventions.

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Quit Experiences among Primary Care Patients Enrolled in a Smoking Cessation Pilot RCT Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1011

Author(s):

Andrea A. Joyce ◽

Grace M. Styklunas ◽

Nancy A. Rigotti ◽

Jordan M. Neil ◽

Elyse R. Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Age Groups ◽

Text Messages ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Primary Care Patients ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US adults’ smoking and quitting behaviors is unclear. We explored the impact of COVID-19 on smoking behaviors, risk perceptions, and reactions to text messages during a statewide stay-at-home advisory among primary care patients who were trying to quit. From May–June 2020, we interviewed smokers enrolled in a 12-week, pilot cessation trial providing text messaging and mailed nicotine replacement medication (NCT04020718). Twenty-two individuals (82% white, mean age 55 years), representing 88% of trial participants during the stay-at-home advisory, completed exit interviews; four (18%) of them reported abstinence. Interviews were thematically analyzed by two coders. COVID-19-induced environmental changes had mixed effects, facilitating quitting for some and impeding quitting for others. While stress increased for many, those who quit found ways to cope with stress. Generally, participants felt at risk for COVID-19 complications but not at increased risk of becoming infected. Reactions to COVID-19 and quitting behaviors differed across age groups, older participants reported difficulties coping with isolation (e.g., feeling disappointed when a text message came from the study and not a live person). Findings suggest that cessation interventions addressing stress and boredom are needed during COVID-19, while smokers experiencing isolation may benefit from live-person supports.

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756 The Moderating Influence of Depression on Insomnia and Suicidal Ideation in a Military Sample

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.753 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A294-A295

Author(s):

Emma Palermo ◽

Jennifer Goldschmied ◽

Elaine Boland ◽

Elizabeth A Klingaman ◽

Philip Gehrman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Research University ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Risk And Resilience ◽

Depression Severity ◽

Significant Interaction Effect ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction Military personnel are at an increased risk for suicide compared to the general population, making it important to develop a deeper understanding of which factors contribute to this elevated risk. Given that suicidal ideation (SI) is one of the strongest predictors of suicide attempts, understanding factors that underlie SI may improve prevention efforts. Insomnia and depression both serve as independent risk factors for SI, and therefore the aim of this study was to examine the extent to which depressive symptoms moderate the association between insomnia and SI. Methods Data were obtained from the All Army Study of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (STARRS). Soldiers (n=21,450) completed questions related to suicidal ideation (5 items), depressive symptoms (9 items), and insomnia (5 items) based on symptom presence in the past 30 days. Items in each domain were summed to create a total severity score. GEE models using a negative binomial linking function were conducted to examine the impact of depression, insomnia, and their interaction on SI. Results Both depression (χ2 =117.56, p<0.001) and insomnia (χ2=11.79, p=0.0006) were found to have significant main effects on SI, and there was a significant interaction effect (χ2=4.52, p=0.0335). Follow up simple effects revealed that insomnia was no longer significantly associated with SI when depression severity was low, but was associated with SI in the presence of greater depression severity (χ2=2.91, p=0.0882). Conclusion In a large sample of Army soldiers, depression significantly moderated the association between SI and insomnia, such that insomnia seems to amplify the effects of depression on SI. These findings highlight the importance of addressing insomnia severity as a mean of reducing SI in those with depression, potentially allowing for intervention prior to a suicide attempt. Support (if any) Perlis: K24AG055602 & R01AG041783. This publication is based on public use data from Army STARRS (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan- http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR35197-v1), funded by U.S. NIMH-U01MH087981.

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A neuropsychological group rehabilitation program with institutionalized elderly

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.588 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. s235-s235

Author(s):

L. Lemos ◽

H. Espírito-Santo ◽

S. Simões ◽

F. Silva ◽

J. Galhardo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Randomized Study ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Institutionalized Elderly ◽

Group Rehabilitation ◽

The Impact

IntroductionElderly institutionalization involves an emotional adaptation and the research shows that the risk of depression increases.ObjectivesEvaluate the impact of a neuropsychological group rehabilitation program (NGRP) on depressive symptomatology of institutionalized elderly.AimsNGRP influences the decrease of depressive symptoms.MethodsElderly were assessed pre- and post-intervention with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and divided into a Rehabilitated Group (RG), a Waiting List Group (WLG), and a Neutral Task Group (NTG).ResultsIn this randomized study, before rehabilitation, 60 elderly people (RG; 80.31 ± 8.98 years of age; 74.2% women) had a mean GDS score of 13.33 (SD = 9.21). Five elderly included in the NTG (80.13 ± 10.84 years; 75.0% women) had a mean GDS score of 10.60 (SD = 4.72). Finally, 29 elderly in the WLG (81.32 ± 6.68 years; 69.0% women) had a mean GDS score of 14.93 (SD = 6.02). The groups were not different in GDS baseline scores (F = 0.74; P = 0.478). ANCOVA has shown significant differences (P < 0.05) in GDS scores between the three groups after 10 weeks. Sidak adjustment for multiple comparisons revealed that elderly in the WLG got worse scores in GDS, comparing with elderly in RG (P < 0.01), and with elderly in NTG (P < 0.05).ConclusionsElderly that are not involved in a task get worse in depressive symptomatology. Being involved in a structured group task means lower depressive symptoms and being in a NGRP means even greater results.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Prevalence of depression among undergraduate students: gender and age differences

International journal of psychological research ◽

10.21500/20112084.657 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 38-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leila Ghaedi ◽

Azlina Binti Mohd Kosnin

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Male Students ◽

Female Undergraduate ◽

Male And Female ◽

Male Undergraduate ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Prevalence Of Depression

Depressive disorders are the most typical disease affecting many different factors of humanity. University students may be at increased risk of depression owing to the pressure and stress they encounter. Therefore, the purpose of this study is comparing the level of depression among male and female athletes and non-athletes undergraduate student of private university in Esfahan, Iran. The participants in this research are composed of 400 male and female athletes as well as no-athletes Iranian undergraduate students. The Beck depression test (BDI) was employed to measure the degree of depression. T-test was used to evaluate the distinction between athletes and non-athletes at P≤0.05. The ANOVA was conducted to examine whether there was a relationship between level of depression among non-athletes and athletes. The result showed that the prevalence rate of depression among non-athlete male undergraduate students is significantly higher than that of athlete male students. The results also presented that level of depression among female students is much more frequent compared to males. This can be due to the fatigue and lack of energy that are more frequent among female in comparison to the male students. Physical activity was negatively related to the level of depression by severity among male and female undergraduate students. However, there is no distinct relationship between physical activity and level of depression according to the age of athlete and non-athlete male and female undergraduate students. This study has essential implications for clinical psychology due to the relationship between physical activity and prevalence of depression.

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Activation syndrome caused by paroxetine in a cancer patient

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951508000278 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 183-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tomomi Nishida ◽

Makoto Wada ◽

Mei Wada ◽

Hiroshi Ito ◽

Masaru Narabayashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cancer Patient ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Correct Diagnosis ◽

Care Staff ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Behavioral Abnormalities ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Life Functioning ◽

Activation Syndrome

ABSTRACTIndividuals with cancer have two to four times an increased risk of depressive disorders compared to the general population. Depressive symptoms are related to impaired daily life functioning and a rise in health care utilization. Pharmacological treatments for depression are usually effective to reduce depressive symptoms, but sometimes lead to serious adverse reactions. We describe a cancer patient who developed sudden psychological and behavioral abnormalities after administration of the antidepressant paroxetine. Impulsive and aggressive symptoms are a so-called activation syndrome that can cause violent or suicidal tendencies. Palliative care staff should pay close attention to these potentially lethal reactions and make an immediate and correct diagnosis.

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Depression in multiple sclerosis across the adult lifespan

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458520979304 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 135245852097930

Author(s):

Carol K Chan ◽

Fan Tian ◽

Daniela Pimentel Maldonado ◽

Ellen M Mowry ◽

Kathryn C Fitzgerald

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Regression Models ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Age Groups ◽

Adult Age ◽

Adult Lifespan ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Z Scores ◽

The Relationship

Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the burden of depressive symptoms across the adult age span in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and test if the relationship between depressive symptoms and MS characteristics vary across age groups. Methods: In analyses of the MS Partners Advancing Technology and Health Solutions (MS PATHS) network of adults with MS, we compared the prevalence of depression in MS PATHS with non-MS controls across age and evaluated for effect modification by age in the association between depressive symptoms and clinical and neuroperformance measures via multivariable-adjusted regression models. Results: In total, 13,821 individuals with MS were included. The prevalence of depression was higher in MS versus non-MS controls, but was similar between men/women across age. The association between depression and processing speed (PST; p for interaction = 0.009) or walking speed ( p for interaction = 0.04) varied by age. For example, younger depressed individuals had 0.45 standard deviation (SD) (95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.62, −0.29) worse PST Z-scores versus non-depressed younger participants, whereas older depressed individuals had 0.20 SD (95% CI = −0.32, −0.08) worse PST Z-scores versus non-depressed older participants. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms and age should be considered when interpreting measures of walking speed and cognitive function; these findings may have implications for analyses of neuroperformance change.

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Vulnerability to depression: A moderated mediation model of the roles of child maltreatment, peer victimization, and serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region genetic variation among children from low socioeconomic status backgrounds

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579413000047 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 599-614 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Adrienne M. Banny ◽

Dante Cicchetti ◽

Fred A. Rogosch ◽

Assaf Oshri ◽

Nicki R. Crick

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Child Maltreatment ◽

Peer Victimization ◽

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Moderated Mediation ◽

Process Models ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Increased Risk

AbstractChild maltreatment, peer victimization, and a polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) were examined as predictors of depressive symptomatology. Children (Mage = 11.26,SD= 1.65), including 156 maltreated and 145 nonmaltreated children from comparable low socioeconomic backgrounds, provided DNA samples and self-reports of relational peer victimization, overt peer victimization, and depressive symptoms. Path analysis showed that relational and overt victimization mediated the association between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Bootstrapping procedures were used to test moderated mediation and demonstrated that genotype moderated the indirect effects of relational and overt victimization on child depressive symptoms, such that victimized children with the long/long variation were at an increased risk for depressive symptoms compared to victimized children carrying a short allele. Results highlight the utility of examining process models that incorporate biological and psychological factors contributing to the development of depressive symptomatology and provide direction toward understanding and promoting resilience among high-risk youth from a multiple levels of analysis approach.

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Physician speciality and pain reduction in patients with depressive symptoms under treatment with venlafaxine

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.10.004 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (8) ◽

pp. 455-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. Begré ◽

M. Traber ◽

M. Gerber ◽

R. von Känel

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Pain Reduction ◽

Integrated Treatment ◽

Medical Speciality ◽

Iatrogenic Complications ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectivesExcessive pain perception may lead to unnecessary diagnostic testing or invasive procedures resulting in iatrogenic complications and prolonged disability. Naturalistic studies on patients with chronic pain and depressive symptoms investigating the impact of medical speciality on treatment outcome in a primary care setting are lacking.MethodsIn this observational study, we examined whether the magnitude of pain reduction in 444 patients with depressive symptomatology under venlafaxine would relate differently to the medical speciality of the 122 treating physicians, namely psychiatrists (n = 110 patients), general practitioners (n = 236 patients), and internists (n = 98 patients).ResultsIndependent of age, gender, patient's region of origin, comorbidity, severity and duration of pain, and depressive symptoms at study entry, patients seemed to benefit significantly less in terms of pain reduction (p < 0.001) and of reduction in severity of depressive symptomatology by psychiatrists as compared to general practitioners (p < 0.019) and internists (p < 0.002).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that patients referred to psychiatrists are more difficult to treat than those referred to general practitioners and internists, and might not have been adequately prepared for psychiatric interventions. A supporting cooperation and networking between psychiatrists and primary care physicians may contribute to an integrated treatment concept and therefore, may lead to a better outcome in this challenging patient group.

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Life events and changes in the course of depression in young adults

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(02)00682-x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 241-253 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

Robert H. Friis ◽

Hans-Ulrich Wittchen ◽

Hildegard Pfister ◽

Roselind Lieb

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Life Events ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Longitudinal Design ◽

Community Sample ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Prospective Longitudinal ◽

The Impact ◽

Course Of Depression ◽

New Onset

SummaryBackground.Few community-based studies have examined the impact of life events, life conditions and life changes on the course of depression. This paper examines associations of life events on depressive symptom onset, improvement, and stability.Methods.Direct interview data from the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology Study (EDSP), a 4–5 year prospective-longitudinal design based on a representative community sample of adolescents and young adults, aged 14–24 years at baseline, are used. Life events were measured using the Munich Event-Questionnaire (MEL) consisting of 83 explicit items from various social role areas and subscales for the assessment of life event clusters categorized according to dimensions such as positive and negative and controllable and uncontrollable. Depressive disorders were assessed with the DSM-IV version of the Munich Composite Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI). Multiple logistic regression analyses examined the effects of 22 predictors on the course of depression (onset, improvement, stability).Results.Younger age, low social class, negative and stressful life events linked to the family were associated with increased risk of new onset of depression. Anxiety was a significant independent predictor of new onset of depression. Absence of stressful school and family events was related to improvement in depression. The weighted total number of life events predicted stable depression.Conclusions.The association between life events and the course of depression appears to vary according to the outcome being examined, with different clusters of life events differentially predicting onset, improvement, and stability.

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Early breast cancer: why does obesity affect prognosis?

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665118000447 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 369-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. Heetun ◽

R. I. Cutress ◽

E. R. Copson

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Body Composition ◽

Treatment Effectiveness ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Age Groups ◽

Obese Patients ◽

Chemotherapy Drugs ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Impact ◽

High Bmi

High BMI is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women but poorer outcomes in all age groups. The underlying mechanism is likely to be multi-factorial. Patients with a high BMI may present later due to body habitus. Some studies have also indicated an increased incidence of biologically adverse features, including a higher frequency of oestrogen receptor (ER negative) tumours, in obese patients. Obese patients have a higher frequency of surgical complications, potentially delaying systemic therapies, and reports suggest that chemotherapy and endocrine therapy are less effective in patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2.High BMI is generally interpreted as excess adiposity and a World Cancer Research Fund report judged that the associations between BMI and incidence of breast cancer were due to body fatness. However, BMI cannot distinguish lean mass from fat mass, or characterise body fat distribution. Most chemotherapy drugs are dosed according to calculated body surface area (BSA). Patients with a similar BSA or BMI may have wide variations in their distribution of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle (body composition); however, few studies have looked at the effect of this on chemotherapy tolerance or effectiveness. Finally, adjuvant treatments for breast cancer can themselves result in body composition changes.Research is required to fully understand the biological mechanisms by which obesity influences cancer behaviour and the impact of obesity on treatment effectiveness and tolerance so that specific management strategies can be developed to improve the prognosis of this patient group.

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