Psychological Aspects of COVID-19 in Iran: How the Disease May Affect Mental Health of Medical Staff and General Population?

Introduction: The disease related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now been a pandemic throughout the world. Although the epidemiological studies and clinical trials are utilized to find standard measures and medicines to prevent and control COVID-19, addressing the mental health and psychology of the people who may be at risk of the disease may also be effective to find comprehensive methods to better overcome this pandemic. This study aimed at investigating the mental status of both the general population and healthcare personnel during this pandemic in Iran. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a sample of 296 medical staff and 532 people living in Tehran city of Iran were included in the study. The assessment was performed by Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale short-form (DASS-21). Two groups were matched in terms of some demographical factors such as age, gender, and marital status. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was utilized to perform comparisons between the two groups. Results: Both samples of the general population and medical staff had high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The mean score of anxiety and depression among medical staff was higher than that of the general population (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of stress level. Conclusion: It seems both the Iranian general population and healthcare personnel are under mental pressure caused by COVID-19, indicating an urgent need for intervention and using preventive measures to control the negative impacts of the diseases on the psychological well-being of these people. Further studies in other regions affected by the disease may provide more evidence in this regard.

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Physical and Psychosocial Well-Being of Hospitalized and Non-Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 Compared to the General Population in Qatar

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.792058 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Sami Ouanes ◽

Hassen Al-Amin ◽

Nurrunnazha Binti Hussein ◽

Faisal Khan ◽

Ahmad Al Shahrani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Short Form ◽

Female Gender ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hospitalized Patients ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Easy Access ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sf 36

Background: Many studies have shown a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in COVID-19 patients and the general population. However, very few studies directly examined the potential impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and none compared HRQoL in COVID-19 patients to the general population amid the pandemic.Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study comparing HRQoL (as measured using the RAND Short Form 36 or SF-36 Health Survey) in randomly selected individuals from three different groups: hospitalized COVID-19 patients, quarantined COVID-19 patients, and controls from the general population in Qatar. We constructed a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) to compare the SF-36 scores between the three groups and control for various covariates.Results: Our sample consisted of 141 COVID-19 inpatients, 99 COVID-19 quarantined patients, and 285 healthy controls. Surprisingly, we found that HRQoL was higher in COVID-19 hospitalized than in COVID-19 non-hospitalized patients than in controls. The main components where COVID-patients scored higher than controls were physical functioning and role limitations due to emotional problems. In COVID-19 patients, the female gender, older age, and past psychiatric history were associated with lower HRQoL.Conclusions: It seems that COVID-19 patient's HRQoL might be better than expected. Our results can be explained by social support from family and friends, easy access to mental health screening and care, and a possible change of perspectives after recovery from COVID-19, resulting in psychological growth and enhanced resilience.

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Mental Health, Sense of Coherence, and Interpersonal Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Germany

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9113708 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 3708

Author(s):

Stefanie Jung ◽

Jonas Kneer ◽

Tillmann H. C. Krüger

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sense Of Coherence ◽

Interpersonal Violence ◽

Online Survey ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Western Country ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Substantial Impact ◽

Patient Health

Preliminary data indicates that the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) pandemic may have a substantial impact on mental health and well-being. We assessed mental health in response to the lockdown in Germany between 1 April 2020 and 15 April 2020 using a cross-sectional online survey (n = 3545) with a mixed-methods approach. We found increased levels of psychosocial distress (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) stress module), anxiety, depressive symptoms (PHQ-4), irritability, and a decrease in overall well-being (WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)), sense of coherence (Short Form of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-L9)), sexual contentment, and sleep quality. The four-week-prevalence of interpersonal violence was yet at 5% and included verbal, physical, and sexual violence. Participants reported finding comfort in family, friends, conversation, exercise, and activity. Findings are also in line with research showing that women seem to have more trouble coping with the pandemic and lockdown measures. Our observations demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic and related measures lead to a mental health burden even in a highly developed Western country and should, therefore, be taken seriously. The findings for interpersonal violence are alarming. Thus, we should sharpen our focus on the matter and activate and enhance supporting systems to help protect those affected.

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Mental Well-Being and Its Associated Factors Among Myanmar Migrant Workers in Penang, Malaysia

Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1010539520940199 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (6-7) ◽

pp. 320-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mila Nu Nu Htay ◽

Swe Swe Latt ◽

Khine Sandar Maung ◽

Wai Wai Myint ◽

Soe Moe

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Support Groups ◽

Migrant Workers ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

Health Support ◽

Mental Well Being

International migration has become a global phenomenon bringing with it complex and interrelated issues related to the physical and mental well-being of the people involved. This study investigated the mental well-being and factors associated with mental health among Myanmar migrant workers (MMW) in Malaysia. The cross-sectional study was conducted in Penang, Malaysia by using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index Scale (WHO-5) and the Mental Health subscale of 36 items in the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Among 192 migrant workers who were understudied, 79.2% had poor mental well-being according to the WHO-5 scale. The duration of stay in Malaysia and without receiving financial aid from their employers despite having a physical illness were significantly associated with poor mental well-being. Mental health support groups should target migrant workers for mental health education and find ways to provide assistance for them. Furthermore, premigration training should be delivered at the country of origin that also provides information on the availability of mental health support in the host country.

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Mental Health of Community-Dwelling Older Adults and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Medical - Surgical Nursing Journal ◽

10.5812/msnj.99059 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Roohollah Farhadloo ◽

Sarallah Shojaei ◽

Hamid Torabian ◽

Mostafa Vahedian ◽

Masoumeh Zakerimoghadam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Good Condition ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Distress Scale

Background: Improving lifestyle, increasing lifespan and life expectancy have led to the phenomenon of aging in societies. The increasing population of older adults is one of the most important economic, social, and health challenges in the current century. Objectives: This study was conducted to measure the mental health of older adults in Qom City and its relationship with socioeconomic factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study on 400 older adults over 60 years in the urban areas of Qom in 2018. A multi-stage sampling method was used for this study. The research tools were a demographic questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K6), and a standard psychological well-being scale. Data were analyzed by Stata 12 software using the t-test. The significance level was considered less than 0.05. Results: Considering the mental health status, based on the K6, 55% of the elderly showed signs of low depression anxiety, 34% moderate, and 11% showed severe anxiety symptoms. Regarding the status of well-being, 49.50% were in good condition (11.3 ± 3.3), 27.75% were in moderate condition (13.8 ± 2.9), and 22.75% were in poor condition (7.3 ± 2.6). Anxiety and depression had significant relationships with gender, having an illness, marital status, having a caregiver, and income. Conclusions: The results showed that about half of the elderly in Qom had moderate anxiety and depression disorders, as well as moderate mental well-being, which indicates the moderate level of anxiety and mental disorders in the elderly in Qom.

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The relationship between physical activity and mental health varies across activity intensity levels and dimensions of mental health among women and men

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980009992825 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1207-1214 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Melinda Asztalos ◽

Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽

Greet Cardon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

General Population ◽

Well Being ◽

Population Based ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Activity Intensity ◽

Secondary Analyses ◽

The Relationship

AbstractObjectiveTo explore gender-specific variations related to activity intensity in the relationship between physical activity (PA) and mental health (MH). Evaluating whether psychological well-being enhances with increases in PA at recommended levels and above, in the general population.DesignCross-sectional.SettingPopulation-based, representative for Belgium.SubjectsA total of 6803 adults aged 25–64 years from the Belgian National Health Interview Survey.ResultsMultiple logistic regression analyses showed that clearly different intensity levels characterised the PA that associated with MH in women and men. In men, inverse associations existed between participation in vigorous-intensity PA and feelings of depression (OR = 0·580; 95 % CI 0·405, 0·830), anxiety (OR = 0·547; 95 % CI 0·364, 0·821) and symptoms of somatisation (OR = 0·590; 95 % CI 0·398, 0·874). In women, positive associations existed between walking and emotional well-being (OR = 1·202; 95 % CI 1·038, 1·394) and inverse associations between participation in moderate-intensity PA and symptoms of somatisation (OR = 0·737; 95 % CI 0·556, 0·977). Secondary analyses confirmed that differences in psychological complaints were significant for vigorous PA in men, and for moderate PA in women, whereas differences in emotional well-being were significant for walking exclusively in women.ConclusionsIn the general population, the PA–MH relationship is always positive, regardless of activity intensity. In men, it addresses complaints (symptoms, palpable discomfort) and the optimal PA intensity is high. In women, it addresses complaints, but also distress (lowered mood, disturbing anxiety, altered well-being) and the PA intensity is mild.

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Health and well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people aged 50 years and over

Australian Health Review ◽

10.1071/ah16200 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 146 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Mark Hughes

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

General Population ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Issues ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Sexual Diversity ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Health And Well Being

Objectives The aim of the present study was to examine the health and well being of older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, the health issues that concern them, the services they use and challenges accessing services. Methods This study comprised a survey of the health and well being of 312 LGBTI people aged 50 years and over in New South Wales. The survey included the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) measure of health-related quality of life, the Kessler 10 (K10) measure of psychological distress, and the three-item Loneliness Scale. Results Higher levels of psychological distress, lower mental health and greater loneliness were found among this sample than is typically found in the general population. Mental health was lower among carers and those not in a relationship, while psychological distress was greater among those living alone and those experiencing higher rates of loneliness. The most commonly accessed health service was a general practitioner (GP), with most respondents reporting that they were open about their sexuality to their GP and that they had a regular GP. Some reported difficulties accessing health services because of their gender or sexual diversity. Conclusions Although many older LGBTI people are well, both physically and mentally, they do appear to face increased risk of certain health issues compared with the general population. What is known about the topic? Overseas research indicates that older LGBTI people may be at greater risk of certain physical and mental health conditions than the general population. What does this paper add? This paper provides Australian data, using well-validated instruments, on the health and well being of older LGBTI people. It provides evidence of the health issues that older LGBTI people are most concerned about and the barriers they face in accessing services. What are the implications for practitioners? It is important for health practitioners to be aware that older LGBTI people appear to be at increased risk of certain physical and mental health issues, such as loneliness and psychological distress. Providing opportunities for clients to identify their gender or sexual diversity may assist in monitoring risk factors and enable referral to promote healthy aging.

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Prevalence of geriatric depression in the Kavre district, Nepal: Findings from a cross sectional community survey

10.21203/rs.2.11685/v4 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Kedar Manandhar ◽

Ajay Risal ◽

Oshin Shrestha ◽

Nirmala Manandhar ◽

Dipak Kunwar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Short Form ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Geriatric Depression ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Abstract Background: The increasing elderly population worldwide is likely to increase mental health problems such as geriatric depression, which has mostly been studied in high-income countries. Similar studies are scarce in low-and-middle-income-countries like Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based, door-to-door survey was conducted in randomly selected rural and urban population clusters of the Kavre district, Nepal. Trained nurses (field interviewers) administered structured questionnaires that included a validated Nepali version of the Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-15) for identifying geriatric depression among the elderly (≥60 years) participants (N=460). Those scoring ≥6 on GDS-15 were considered depressed. Logistic regression analysis explored the associations of geriatric depression with regard to socio-demographic information, life style, family support and physical well-being. Results: Of the total 460 selected elderly participants, 439 (95.4%) took part in the study. More than half of them were females (54.2%). The mean age was 70.9 (± 8.6) years. Approximately half (50.6%) were rural inhabitants, the majority (86.1%) were illiterate, and about three-fifths (60.1%) were living with their spouses. The gender-and-age adjusted prevalence of geriatric depression was 53.1%. Geriatric depression was significantly associated with rural habitation (AOR 1.6), illiteracy (AOR 2.1), limited time provided by families (AOR 1.8), and exposure to verbal and/or physical abuse (AOR 2.6). Conclusion: Geriatric depression is highly prevalent in Kavre, Nepal. The findings call for urgent prioritization of delivery of elderly mental health care services in the country. Keywords: depression, elderly, lifestyle, mental health, prevalence

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Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in General Population of Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-39082/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Saman Maroufizadeh ◽

Majid Pourshaikhian ◽

Ali Pourramzani ◽

Farzaneh Sheikholeslami ◽

Mohammad Taghi Moghadamnia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

General Population ◽

Family Members ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Anxiety Depression

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global public health emergency and may result in psychological problems such as anxiety and depression in general population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their associated factors in general population of Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We conducted this web-based cross-sectional study on 5328 individuals in Iran, between 17 and 29 April 2020. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire via social media like WhatsApp and Telegram. The online survey collected information on demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related variables, and anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), respectively. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of anxiety and depression.Results: The mean GAD-7 and PHQ-9 total scores were 7.17 (SD=5.42) and 7.80 (SD=6.68), respectively. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and comorbid anxiety-depression were 30.1%, 33.4%, and 22.1%, respectively. According to the adjusted analysis, anxiety was significantly associated with being female, being young and middle-aged, being unemployed or housewife, having chronic diseases, long time thinking about COVID-19, having family members, friends, and/or relatives infected with COVI-19, and death of family members, relatives or friends due to COVID-19. Same results were also found for depression. Furthermore, depression was associated with being single, being resident in urban area, and having high risk individual in family. Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety and depression were considerably high in general population of Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the findings suggest that more attention needs to be paid to vulnerable groups such as women, young/middle-aged adults, unemployed people, people with chronic disease. Thus, a holistic approach, including management policies, psychosocial interventions, training, support, and tele-mental health, is absolutely crucial to reduce mental health problems of the COVID-19 and any outbreaks of other infectious diseases.

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The psychological impact of COVID-19 outbreak on medical staff and the general public

10.21203/rs.3.rs-21213/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Biao Chen ◽

Qing-xian Li ◽

Heng Zhang ◽

Jia-yong Zhu ◽

Yu-hang Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

General Population ◽

Medical Staff ◽

General Public ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Psychosocial Effects ◽

Event Scale ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Abstract Purpose: To assess the psychological effects of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on medical staff and the general public.Methods: During the outbreak of COVID-19, an internet-based questionnaire included The Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used to assess the impact of the epidemic situation on the mental health of medical staff and general population in Wuhan and its surrounding areas.Results: The results suggest that the outbreak of COVID-19 has affected individuals significantly, the degree of which is related to age, sex, occupation and mental illness. There was a significant difference in PSS-10 and IES-R scores between the medical staff and the general population. The medical staff showed higher PSS-10 scores (16.813 ± 4.87) and IES-R scores (22.40 ± 12.12) compared to members of the general population PSS-10 (14.80 ± 5.60) and IES-R scores (17.89 ± 13.08). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the SDS scores of medical staff (44.52 ± 12.36) and the general public (43.08 ± 11.42). In terms of the need for psychological assistance, 50.97% of interviewees responded that they needed psychological counseling, of which medical staff accounted for 65.87% and non-medical staff accounted for 45.10%.Conclusion: During the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, great attention should be paid to the mental health of the population, especially medical staff, and measures such as psychological intervention should be actively carried out for reducing the psychosocial effects.

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Mental health outcomes and associations during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey of the US general population

10.1101/2020.05.26.20114140 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bella Nichole Kantor ◽

Jonathan Kantor

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

General Population ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Us ◽

History Of ◽

Male Sex ◽

Baseline Demographic

AbstractPandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may lead to significant mental health stresses, potentially with modifiable risk factors. To determine the presence of and magnitude of associations between baseline associations and anxiety and depression in the US general population, we performed an internet-based cross-sectional survey of an age-, sex-, and race-stratified representative sample from the US general population. Degrees of anxiety, depression, and loneliness were assessed using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the 8-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, respectively. Unadjusted and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine associations with baseline demographic characteristics. A total of 1,005 finished surveys were returned of the 1,020 started, yielding a completion rate of 98.5% in the survey panel. The mean (SD) age of respondents was 45 (16), and 494 (48.8%) were male. Baseline demographic data were similar between those that were (n=663, 66.2%) and were not (n=339, 33.8%) under a shelter in place/ stay at home order, with the exception of sex and geographic location. Overall, 264 subjects (26.8%) met criteria for an anxiety disorder based on a GAD-7 cutoff of 10; a cutoff of 7 yielded 416 subjects (41.4%) meeting clinical criteria for anxiety. On multivariable analysis, male sex (OR 0.65, 95% CI [0.49, 0.87]) and living in a larger home (OR 0.46, 95% CI [0.24, 0.88]) were associated with a decreased odds of meeting anxiety criteria. Rural location (OR 1.39, 95% CI [1.03, 1.89]), loneliness (OR 4.92, 95% CI [3.18, 7.62]), and history of hospitalization (OR 2.04, 95% CI [1.38, 3.03]), were associated with increased odds of meeting anxiety criteria. 232 subjects (23.6%) met criteria for clinical depression. On multivariable analysis, male sex (OR 0.71, 95% CI [0.53, 0.95]), increased time outdoors (OR 0.51, 95% CI [0.29, 0.92]), and living in a larger home (OR 0.35, 95% CI [0.18, 0.69]), were associated with decreased odds of meeting depression criteria. Having lost a job (OR 1.64, 95% CI [1.05, 2.54]), loneliness (OR 10.42, 95% CI [6.26, 17.36]), and history of hospitalization (OR 2.42, 95% CI [1.62, 3.62]), were associated with an increased odds of meeting depression criteria. Income, media consumption, and religiosity were not associated with mental health outcomes. Anxiety and depression are common in the US general population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are associated with potentially modifiable factors.

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