Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of social distancing on the occurrence of symptoms of anxiety and depression reported in scientific production available in 2020, describing and analyzing the main triggering factors of mental health problems/diseases in the period of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The method used was an integrative literature review, with searches in Lilacs, SciELO, Medline, and PubMed databases. The following descriptors were used for the selection of publications: Social Distancing, Anxiety, and Depression, used in combination in the search strategy. To refine the search, filters were used: full text; Language Portuguese, English, and Spanish; Main subject; Type of document, with an article as the only type of literature accepted; Year of Publication 2020. This research identified 37 studies later categorized into five main themes: Physical Inactivity, Reduction of social contact and face-to-face interactions, Financial concerns and economic vulnerability, Loneliness, and Alcohol Consumption. The major impacts of social distancing on mental health were the drastic change in routine, favoring sedentary behavior, and limitation in interpersonal contact indicated in many studies as a generator of a high prevalence of harmful psychological effects, especially depression, anxiety, irritability, and irritability episodes of insomnia. The perception of loneliness as a consequence of the period of social distancing was also identified by most studies as associated with anxious and depressive outcomes and with an increased risk of suicidal ideation, as well as the increased use of alcohol, widely used as an escape from reality in the current context of economic resection, unemployment, indebtedness, and death of family and friends by COVID-19.

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The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Predicts Concurrent Mental Health Difficulties in a Transdiagnostic Sample of Struggling Learners

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.587821 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Annie Bryant ◽

Jacalyn Guy ◽

Joni Holmes ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Health Problems ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Developmental Problems ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Strengths And Difficulties

Children and adolescents with developmental problems are at increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used as a screener for detecting mental health difficulties in these populations, but its use thus far has been restricted to groups of children with diagnosed disorders (e.g., ADHD). Transdiagnostic approaches, which focus on symptoms and soften or remove the boundaries between traditional categorical disorders, are increasingly adopted in research and practice. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the SDQ to detect concurrent mental health problems in a transdiagnostic sample of children. The sample were referred by health and educational professionals for difficulties related to learning (N = 389). Some had one diagnosis, others had multiple, but many had no diagnoses. Parent-rated SDQ scores were significantly positively correlated with parent ratings of mental health difficulties on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). Ratings on the SDQ Emotion subscale significantly predicted the likelihood of having concurrent clinical anxiety and depression scores. Ratings on the Hyperactivity subscale predicted concurrent anxiety levels. These findings suggest the SDQ could be a valuable screening tool for identifying existing mental health difficulties in children recognized as struggling, as it can be in typically developing children and those with specific diagnoses.

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Misuse of pharmaceuticals by regular psychostimulant users is linked to mental health problems

Salud Mental ◽

10.17711/sm.0185-3325.2017.034 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

pp. 265-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Caroline L Salom ◽

◽

Lucinda A Burns ◽

Rosa Alati ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Prescription Medications ◽

Pharmaceutical Drugs ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Face To Face ◽

Increased Risk

Introduction. Misuse of pharmaceutical drugs, particularly by young people, is an issue of rising concern. Poly-substance use is common among regular psychostimulant users (RPU), and mental health problems are associated with pharmaceutical misuse, but RPU do not generally acknowledge their use as problematic. Objective. To examine links between mental health and misuse of non-prescription pharmaceuticals in a group of regular users of illicit psychostimulants. Method. Face to face structured interviews were conducted in April 2015 with 763 regular users of illicit psychostimulants as part of the Annual Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System study in Australia. Results. At least half of the RPU in this study reported extra-medical or misuse of pharmaceuticals in the last six months in addition to regular use of illicit psychostimulants. Higher levels of psychological distress were recorded for RPU who also reported recent illicit use of opioids, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or over-the-counter (OTC) codeine. Recent misuse of benzodiazepines or OTC codeine was associated with self-reported mental health problems and having attended a mental health professional. Those reporting recent misuse of opioids were at increased risk of mental health problems and more likely to record high levels of psychological distress, but less likely to have received prescription medications for their mental health problem. Discussion and conclusion. Regular users of illicit psychostimulants who also misuse pharmaceuticals are at increased risk of mental health problems, even after accounting for their use of illicit psychostimulants. Screening of this group for mental health problems is recommended.

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Assessing concerns for the economic consequence of the COVID-19 response and mental health problems associated with economic vulnerability and negative economic shock in Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom

10.31235/osf.io/x9m36 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

cristiano codagnone ◽

Francesco Bogliacino ◽

Camilo Ernesto Gómez ◽

Rafael Alberto Charris ◽

Felipe Montealegre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

United Kingdom ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Machine Learning Techniques ◽

Prediction Algorithm ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Economic Vulnerability ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Economic Shock

Currently, many different countries are under lockdown or extreme social distancing measures to control the spread of COVID-19. The potentially far-reaching side effects of these measures have not yet been fully understood. In this study we analyse the results of a multi-country survey conducted in Italy (N=3,504), Spain (N=3,524) and the United Kingdom (N=3,523), with two separate analyses. In the first analysis, we examine the elicitation of citizens’ concerns over the downplaying of the economic consequences of the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. We control for Social Desirability Bias through a list experiment included in the survey. In the second analysis, we examine the data from the same survey to estimate the consequences of the economic lockdown in terms of mental health, by predicting the level of stress, anxiety and depression associated with being economically vulnerable and having been affected by a negative economic shock. To accomplish this, we have used a prediction algorithm based on machine learning techniques. To quantify the size of this affected population, we compare its magnitude with the number of people affected by COVID-19 using measures of susceptibility, vulnerability and behavioural change collected in the same questionnaire. We find that the concern for the economy and for “the way out” of the lockdown is diffuse and there is evidence of minor underreporting. Additionally, we estimate that around 42.8% of the populations in the three countries are at high risk of stress, anxiety and depression, based on their level of economic vulnerability and their exposure to a negative economic shock. Therefore, it can be concluded that the lockdown and extreme social distancing in the three countries has had an enormous impact on individuals’ mental health and this should be taken into account for future decisions made on regulations concerning the pandemic.

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The Real Cost of Sickness-absence in Mental Health: A Cognitive Behavioural Perspective

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(09)71474-9 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (S1) ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

A. Dovey ◽

S. Wilday

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Cultural Beliefs ◽

Social Contact ◽

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Real Cost ◽

Cognitive Behavioural ◽

The Individual

The number of employees experiencing psychological problems related to occupational stress has increased rapidly in Western countries and mental illness is now cited as one of the top three causes of certified sickness absence.Worldwide economic issues are now synthesising various cultural beliefs and behaviours and should Western factors have an influence then one could presume workplace mental health problems will increase worldwide. The presentation will focus on the literature pertaining to the potential function of sickness absence for the individual as well as the known maintenance factors for anxiety and depression from a CB perspective.The presentation will highlight that the basic CB premise of emotional disorder implicates the potential for an individuals response to symptoms to have a maintenance role in the course of both anxiety and depression. The potential impact of sickness absence for anxiety and depression via the loss of the benefits of employment (e.g. structure, activity and social contact) the potential for the development of sick role behaviour (e.g. reduced activity, social isolation) as well as the reinforcement of avoidant coping are considered significant.In conclusion the presenters propose that sickness absence for individuals with anxiety and/or depression can function as a maintenance factor for both disorders. The implications for the future use of sickness absence as a standalone intervention within this group will be discussed. The audience will have an opportunity to reflect on the potential effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy within the workplace

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Mental health among elite athletes in Norway during a selected period of the COVID-19 pandemic

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001025 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. e001025

Author(s):

Anne Marte Pensgaard ◽

Tom Henning Oevreboe ◽

Andreas Ivarsson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

Health Problems ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Daily Routines ◽

Increased Risk

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of mental health problems and satisfaction with life among different groups of elite athletes during a selected period of the COVID-19 pandemic and examine how COVID-19 related consequences were associated with these variables.DesignCross-sectional data collection during a selected period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.Participants378 elite athletes, mean age 26.86 (range 18–59), 159 females and 219 males, divided into Olympic-level and Paralympic-level athletes (n=194) and elite and semielite athletes (n=184).Main outcome measuresHopkins Symptoms Check List − 10; symptoms of anxiety and depression; Bergen Insomnia Scale; Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short; Canadian Problem Gambling Index and Satisfaction with Life Scale. In addition, we included specific COVID-19 questions (eg, financial concern, keeping daily routines, perceived coping and motivation).ResultsSymptoms of insomnia (38.3%) and depression (22.3%) were most prevalent within the sample. Symptoms of eating disorders more prevalent among female athletes (8.8% vs 1.4%) while symptoms of gambling problems were higher among male athletes (8.6% vs 1.3%). Olympic and Paralympic athletes reported lower levels of anxiety and depression symptoms than elite and semielite athletes. Financial concerns were associated with an increased risk of mental health problems, while daily routines and perception of coping were associated with less mental health problems and higher satisfaction with life.ConclusionSymptoms of insomnia and depression were the two most common mental health problems reported during this selected phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elite and semielite athletes reported financial concerns as a risk factor for mental health problems at a larger degree than Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

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Emotion regulation difficulties and interpersonal problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Predicting anxiety and depression

10.31234/osf.io/g5d8r ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ole Andre Solbakken ◽

Omid V. Ebrahimi ◽

Asle Hoffart ◽

Jon T. Monsen ◽

Sverre Urnes Johnson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Interpersonal Difficulties ◽

The Impact

Background: Central components of psychological functioning, such as difficulties in emotion regulation and interpersonal problems are likely to have been substantially impacted by COVID-19 and the amelioration measures of societal lock-down and social distancing. In turn, these factors are likely to predict mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety throughout the pandemic and beyond. Methods: To investigate this issue, we conducted an internet-based survey with 10,061 responders at the height of lock-down (T1). After social distancing measures had been eased (T2), 4,936 responders (49.1%) completed the survey again. Results: Emotion regulation difficulties, interpersonal problems, and symptoms of depression and anxiety decreased from T1 to T2, but changes were minor. After controlling for age and gender, emotion regulation- and interpersonal difficulties were associated with anxiety and depression throughout the study period, and changes in all domains occurred in concert. More extensive problems with emotion regulation at T1 predicted greater reductions in both symptom domains as amelioration measures were eased, while the converse was true for interpersonal problems. Furthermore, the impact of initial emotion regulation difficulties on subsequent changes in both anxiety- and depressive symptoms was dependent on the level of interpersonal difficulties, so that high interpersonal problem load at T1 reversed the effect of emotion regulation difficulties on symptom development. Conclusions: The results suggest that emotion regulation- and interpersonal difficulties are highly central to mental health during the pandemic, and may be important targets for remediation to reduce mental health problems throughout the course of the pandemic and beyond.

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The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire predicts mental health difficulties in a transdiagnostic sample of struggling learners

10.31234/osf.io/wpj8y ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Annie Bryant ◽

Jacalyn Guy ◽

the CALM Team ◽

Joni Holmes

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Health Problems ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Developmental Problems ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Strengths And Difficulties

Children and adolescents with developmental problems are at increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used as a screener for detecting mental health difficulties in these populations, but its validity thus far has been restricted to groups of children with diagnosed disorders (e.g. ADHD). Transdiagnostic approaches, which focus on symptoms and soften or remove the boundaries between traditional categorical disorders, are increasingly adopted in research and practice. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the SDQ to detect mental health problems in a transdiagnostic sample of children. The sample were referred by health and educational professionals for difficulties related to learning (N=389). Some had one diagnosis, others had multiple, but many had no diagnoses. Parent-rated SDQ scores were significantly positively correlated with parent ratings of mental health difficulties on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). Ratings on the SDQ Emotion subscale significantly predicted the likelihood of having clinical anxiety and depression scores. Ratings on the Hyperactivity subscale predicted anxiety levels. These findings suggest the SDQ could be a valuable screening tool for identifying mental health difficulties in children recognised as struggling, as it can be in typically developing children and those with specific diagnoses.

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The Real Cost of Sickness-absence in Mental Health: A Cognitive Behavioural Perspective

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(09)70600-5 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (S1) ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

A. Dovey ◽

S. Wilday

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Cultural Beliefs ◽

Social Contact ◽

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Real Cost ◽

Cognitive Behavioural ◽

The Individual

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Effects of COVID-19 on maternal anxiety and depressive disease: a literature review

Sechenov Medical Journal ◽

10.47093/2218-7332.2021.12.2.35-43 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 35-43

Author(s):

I. Mappa ◽

F. A. Distefano ◽

G. Rizzo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Developmental Outcomes ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Psychological Resilience ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Impact

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is a public health emergency of international concern. Pandemics pose a challenge to psychological resilience and can have an adverse impact on mental health. The impact of the ensuing social isolation and loneliness imposed by quarantine along with the worries about the risks of the infection and its economic fallout would appear likely to affect the mental health of the population. It has been reported that women are more likely to experience anxiety and depression symptoms during COVID-19 than men. COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the level of anxiety and depression of pregnant women according to their basal level and pregnancy characteristics. Antenatal mental disorders may be a risk factor for maternal mental health problems such as an increased likelihood of postnatal depression and adverse obstetric and developmental outcomes. Effective coping strategies are associated with better psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced anxiety and depression. The increased risk of mental disorders due to COVID-19 requires policies to be developed to address prenatal and postpartum care to promote maternal-child wellbeing outcomes.

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