scholarly journals A survey on anxiety and depression level among South Indian medical students during the COVID 19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 779-786
Author(s):  
Nihmath Nisha S ◽  
Yuvaraj Maria Francis ◽  
Balaji K ◽  
Gunapriya Raghunath ◽  
Kumaresan M

The COVID-19 pandemic is being a global Heath crisis. The rate of transmission of the disease is very high. At this time there is no specific vaccine or treatment. This widespread outbreak is also associated with psychological distress like depression and anxiety. The effect of COVID 19 on medical students is considerable. The medical students are in a transitory period which could be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. The aim of this study is to assess the mental health of South Indian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic and to see if there is any influence of gender on mental health. A cross sectional study was conducted using convenient sampling method. A total of 359 responses were analysed. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed based on four point Likert scale. GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7) scale and CES-D (Center for Epidemiology Studies for Depression) scale is used to assess anxiety and depression symptoms with a small modification respectively. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS statistics version 25. Out of 359 participants 50.4% of participants were male and 49.6% of them were females; majority of them (95.3%) were between the age group of 18-21. In total 75.5% and 74.6% of participants showed varying levels of anxiety and depression symptoms respectively. Anxiety and depression symptoms are found to have a mild association with gender. Symptoms are slightly higher among females than males.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 238212052199115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott J Halperin ◽  
Matthew N Henderson ◽  
Sofia Prenner ◽  
Jonathan N Grauer

Purpose: The Covid-19 pandemic is a public health emergency with both physical and mental health risks. Medical students have baseline elevated rates of anxiety, depression and burnout. As such, they may be especially susceptible to the psychological stresses of Covid-19. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among United States medical students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional, survey-based study collected demographic data as well as the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. The survey was administered from April 13, 2020 to April 28, 2020 amidst the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 1,428 students from 40 US medical schools completed the survey. From those surveyed, 30.6% and 24.3% of respondents screened positive for anxiety and depression, respectively. Median GAD-7 scores were higher among females (7.0 vs 5.0, P < .00001), pre-clinical students (7.0 vs 6.0, P < .00004), and those with a friend or relative diagnosed with Covid-19 (7.0 vs 6.0, P=.001). Median PHQ-9 scores were higher among females (6.0 vs 4.0, P < .00001) and pre-clinical students (6.0 vs 4.0, P < .00001). Conclusion: When compared to previous medical student studies, these results are 61% higher for anxiety and 70% higher for depression during the Covid-19 era. The current study suggests that there should be a heightened awareness of and sensitivity to student’s mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic with certain cohorts at greater potential risk.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-204
Author(s):  
Sana Akbar ◽  
Misbah Riaz ◽  
Lalarukh Munawar ◽  
Shazia Shakoor

Objective: The purpose of this study was to correlate the hypochondriacal concerns related to diseases with level of anxiety and depression symptoms among medical and engineering undergraduates. Study design and Setting: Cross sectional study was conducted among undergraduates of final year students of BUMDC (Bahria University Medical & Dental College) and engineering students from NUST- PNEC (NUST – Pakistan Navy Engineering College). Methodology: In this study; (99) final year medical students and (92) engineering students were recruited. In order to maintain consistency of age, students aging between 21–26 years were selected. Selected students were handed to fill the required ‘Self-administered Questionnaire’ comprising of demographic details, short health anxiety inventory, medical history and DASS (depression, anxiety and stress scale) which were completed on-site. Data was entered in SPSS version 21 and analyzed using Fisher’s exact test. P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result: Out of 191 students in total from both the groups n=86 (45%) were females and n=105(55%) were males. There were 99 participants from MBBS and 92 from engineering. The participants’ ages ranged from 21-26 years with a mean= 23.95 (SD±2.29), both the cohorts belonged to approximately same age group. While assessing depression the responses were not very different for both the groups. When responses of depression scale were related to visits to psychiatrists or psychologist or psychotherapist a strong relationship was observed (p=0.012) in medical students cohort. Conclusion: The results of the study reflected comparable psychosocial strain at an elevated level among both student groups


2020 ◽  
pp. oemed-2020-106774
Author(s):  
Fan-Yun Lan ◽  
Christian Suharlim ◽  
Stefanos N Kales ◽  
Justin Yang

ObjectivesTo investigate SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) infection and exposure risks among grocery retail workers, and to investigate their mental health state during the pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2020 in a single grocery retail store in Massachusetts, USA. We assessed workers’ personal/occupational history and perception of COVID-19 by questionnaire. The health outcomes were measured by nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) results, General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).ResultsAmong 104 workers tested, 21 (20%) had positive viral assays. Seventy-six per cent positive cases were asymptomatic. Employees with direct customer exposure had an odds of 5.1 (95% CI 1.1 to 24.8) being tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after adjustments. As to mental health, the prevalence of anxiety and depression (ie, GAD-7 score >4 or PHQ-9 score >4) was 24% and 8%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, those able to practice social distancing consistently at work had odds of 0.3 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.9) and 0.2 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.99) screening positive for anxiety and depression, respectively. Workers commuting by foot, bike or private cars were less likely to screen positive for depression (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.7).ConclusionsIn this single store sample, we found a considerable asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection rate among grocery workers. Employees with direct customer exposure were five times more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2. Those able to practice social distancing consistently at work had significantly lower risk of anxiety or depression.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solfrid Romundstad ◽  
Torfinn Hynnekleiv

Abstract Background: The study aimed to examine whether there are associations between levels of depression symptoms and levels of the inflammation marker albuminuria. Materials and methods: The 8303 participants in this cross-sectional study were subjects from the second survey of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT, Norway). Depression symptoms were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for moderately increased albuminuria (ACR > 3.0 mg/mmol) according to different HADS subgroups and -scores.Results: Unadjusted ORs for moderately increased albuminuria were significantly increased in those with HADS > 8 (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.05-1.54, p=0.013) and HADS > 11 (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.19-2.14, p=0.002). However, after adjusting for age and sex, only HADS > 11 was significantly associated with ACR > 3.0 mg/mmol (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.08-1.98, p=0.014), and after multivariable adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidity, there were no significant associations. Conclusion: The positive and significant association between moderately increased albuminuria and symptoms of depression found in unadjusted analyses weakened and disappeared after adjustments. Although individuals with depressive symptoms had albuminuria more often than individuals without such symptoms, albuminuria may reflect other comorbidity and inflammation conditions than depression.


Author(s):  
Carlos Izaias Sartorão Filho ◽  
Wilson Conte de Las Villas Rodrigues ◽  
Ricardo Beauchamp de Castro ◽  
Arlete Aparecida Marçal ◽  
Shirlene Pavelqueires ◽  
...  

AbstractAimto evaluate anxiety and depression disorders among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic.Methodscross-sectional study of medical students conducted in May 2020 with questionnaires regarding social and demographic status and GAD-7 for anxiety and PHQ-9 for depression questionnaires.Resultsparticipated 340 (97.98%) students. Average GAD-7 score was 9.18 (M = 9.18; SD = 4.75); average PHQ-9 score was 12.72 (M = 12.72; SD = 6.62). Results indicate a positive significant relationship between GAD-7 and females, and social distancing affecting finances. Using cut-off score of 10 for GAD-7, 157 (46.17%) students were identified with moderated or severe symptoms of anxiety. For PHQ-9 score, using cut-off of 10, 219 (64.41%) students were identified with moderate or severe symptoms of depression; results indicate a positive significant relationship between PHQ-9 and females and between social distancing affecting finances.Conclusionanalysis demonstrated a higher prevalence of moderated and severe anxiety and depression symptoms among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic, significantly among women and on medical students relating financial impairment related to COVID-19 epidemic.The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Institution under report number CAAE: 30718220.5.0000.8547


Author(s):  
Sema Akkaya Demir ◽  
Rana Nagihan Akder ◽  
Reci Meseri

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are susceptible to obesity, anxiety and depression. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and association of obesity, anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals working in a hospital. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study all of the employees of a hospital were invited to participate (n = 150). Anxiety (via Beck Anxiety Scale) and depression symptoms (via Beck Depression Scale) and obesity were dependent and independent variables. Obesity was determined both with body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity (Waist circumference-WC). Data were collected with face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measurements were done. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 with student t-test, chi-square and correlation tests. Significance was set at a p-value <  0.05. RESULTS: Among the participants who agreed to participate (n = 131, 64.1% females), 35.1% were obese and 50.4% were abdominally obese. The 35.9% had moderate-severe anxiety symptoms, 19.1% had moderate-severe depression symptoms. Both BMI and WC had positive, moderate and significant correlation with anxiety and depression scores. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables obesity (both with BMI and WC) was an independent factor for anxiety and depression symptom presence, whereas after adjusted for these variables anxiety and depression symptom presence was an independent factor for obesity and abdominal obesity (p = 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: There is a correlation between anxiety, depression and obesity. In addition to nutrition interventions in combating obesity, services that will improve mental health should be provided together as teamwork.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Izaias Filho

UNSTRUCTURED Aim: to evaluate anxiety and depression disorders among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: cross-sectional study of medical students conducted in May 2020 with questionnaires regarding social and demographic status and GAD-7 for anxiety and PHQ-9 for depression questionnaires. Results: participated 340 (97.98%) students. Average GAD-7 score was 9.18 (M = 9.18; SD = 4.75); average PHQ-9 score was 12.72 (M = 12.72; SD = 6.62). Results indicate a positive significant relationship between GAD-7 and females, and social distancing affecting finances. Using cut-off score of 10 for GAD-7, 157 (46.17%) students were identified with moderated or severe symptoms of anxiety. For PHQ-9 score, using cut-off of 10, 219 (64.41%) students were identified with moderate or severe symptoms of depression; results indicate a positive significant relationship between PHQ-9 and females and between social distancing affecting finances. Conclusion: analysis demonstrated a higher prevalence of moderated and severe anxiety and depression symptoms among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic, significantly among women and on medical students relating financial impairment related to COVID-19 pandemic. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1101/2020.06.24.20138925


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Borregaard ◽  
S.N Nielsen ◽  
J.F Lassen ◽  
L.O Jensen ◽  
L Thrysoe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although survival rates among patients with coronary artery disease have increased since the introduction of treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI, the effect of psychological factors such as symptoms of anxiety and depression on adverse outcomes are sparsely described. Purpose The objective of the current study was to investigate the association between symptoms of anxiety and depression and 1-year mortality after PCI. Methods A national cross-sectional survey at hospital discharge (responders, n=3,366) with register-based follow-up among patients having undergone elective or emergency PCI. Mental health was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS, and divided into symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A) and symptoms of depression (HADS-D). The association between mental health (HADS-A and HADS-D) and 1-year all-cause mortality were investigated with Cox Proportional Hazard models with time to death as the underlying time scale. The results are presented as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and adjusted for sex, age and Tu-comorbidity score. Results At discharge, 32% of the population reported symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A ≥8) and 19% reported symptoms of depression (HADS-D ≥8). After one year, the mortality rate among patients being alive at discharge was 2.1%. All-cause mortality did not differ among patients reporting symptoms of anxiety compared to patients without symptoms of anxiety (2.3% vs 1.9%, p=0.454), whereas all-cause mortality was higher among patients reporting symptoms of depression compared to those, who did not (4.3% vs 1.6%, p≤0.001). In the regression analyses, symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A ≥8) was not associated with 1-year mortality (HR 1.16 95% CI 0.70–1.92); however, symptoms of depression was (HADS-D ≥8, HR 2.27 95% CI 1.38–3.73, adjusted analyses). Based on the continuous scores of HADS-D, a one-point increase in scores was associated with a 12% higher risk of 1-year mortality (HR 1.12 95% CI 1.05–1.18) (Figure 1). Conclusion After PCI, nearly one-third of patient report symptoms of anxiety and one-fifth symptoms of depression. Symptoms of anxiety was not associated with 1-year mortality, whereas symptoms of depression increased the risk of 1-year mortality. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nushka Marinova ◽  
Tim Rogers ◽  
Angus MacBeth

Online mental health platforms can improve access to, and use of, mental health support for young people who may find it difficult to engage with face-to-face delivery. We modelled engagement and change in anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescent users of the Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall) anonymous digital mental health peer-support platform. A cross-sectional study assessed online activity data from members of Togetherall in UK adolescents referred from mental health services (N=606). Baseline demographics, depression, anxiety, and usage statistics were assessed. Symptom levels among participants who chose to take validated anxiety and depression measures were measured. And participant characteristics were used to predict engagement. Mean number of logins for adolescent members was higher for older adolescents, and for a longer duration than younger adolescents. Mean number of logins and usage time was higher in female adolescents than males. For the total sample, 47.9% of users accessed more than one course, and 27% accessed at least one self-help resource. Gender and age predicted number of joined courses. Greater accessed self-help materials predicted reduced anxiety symptoms. Members mean baseline symptom levels were: GAD-7 between 13.63 and 14.79; PHQ-9 between 16.8 and 18.58. Data were derived from a naturalistic design and modelling of multiple symptom scores should be interpreted with caution. Findings show that adolescents readily engage with an anonymous online platform for common mental disorder, with scope for tailored pathways for different symptom profiles. Members benefit from engagement with Togetherall materials and courses.


Author(s):  
Fan-Yun Lan ◽  
Christian Suharlim ◽  
Stefanos N. Kales ◽  
Justin Yang

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo investigate SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) infection and exposure risks among grocery retail workers, and to investigate their mental health state during the pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2020 in a single grocery retail store in Massachusetts, USA. We assessed workers’ personal/occupational history and perception of COVID-19 by questionnaire. The health outcomes were measured by nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results, GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7) and PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9).ResultsAmong 104 workers tested, twenty-one (20%) had positive viral assays. Seventy-six percent positive cases were asymptomatic. After multi-variate adjustments, employees with direct customer exposure had an odds of 4.7 (95% CI 1.2 to 32.0) being tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while smokers had an odds of 0.1 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.8) having positive assay. As to mental health, the prevalence of anxiety and depression (i.e. GAD-7 score > 4 or PHQ-9 score >4) was 24% and 8%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, those able to practice social distancing consistently at work had odds of 0.2 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.7) and 0.1 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.6) screening positive for anxiety and depression, respectively.ConclusionsWe found a considerable asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection rate among grocery workers. Employees with direct costumer exposure were 5 times more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, while cigarette smokers were 90% less likely to have positive assays. Those able to practice social distancing consistently at work had significantly lower risk of anxiety or depression.


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