scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health: Prevalence and Correlates of New-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in a Canadian Province (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Abba-Aji ◽  
Daniel Li ◽  
Marianne Hrabok ◽  
Reham Shalaby ◽  
April Gusnowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
World Health ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive

BACKGROUND Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on March 11, 2020. Subsequently, an intensive public health campaign recommending regular hand washing, physical distancing, and facemask use evolved as a global strategy to limit viral transmission. OBJECTIVE Objective: This study investigates the prevalence of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. METHODS Methods: This a population-based, cross-sectional online survey of Canadians aged 18 years and older. We used the contamination and cleanliness subscale of the Brief Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (BOCS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and likely Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale to investigate prevalence of OCD symptoms and their correlation to perceived stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS Results: 32,805 individuals who subscribed for supportive text messages with Text4Hope were invited to complete an online survey; 6,041 responded with a mean age of 42 years (age range 11-88 years) and a response rate of 18.4%. Overall, 60.3% of respondents, reported onset of obsessions related to contamination with dirt, germs, or viruses and while 53.8% had compulsions to wash hands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents who were worried about dirt, germs, and viruses only since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly more likely to have moderate/high stress (z=6.4, p<0.001), likely GAD (z=6.0, p<0.001), and likely MDD (z=2.7, p<0.01) compared to respondents who have never been worried about dirt, germs, and viruses. Similarly, respondents who engage in compulsive hand washing were significantly more likely to have moderate/high stress (z=4.6, p<0.001) and likely GAD (z=4.6 p<0.001) but not likely MDD (z=1.4, p=0.16) compared to respondents who have never engaged in compulsive hand washing. CONCLUSIONS Conclusion: Prevalence of OCD symptoms increased during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, at a rate significantly higher than pre-pandemic rates reported for the sample population. Presenting with OCD symptoms during the pandemic significantly increases the likelihood for respondents to present with elevated stress levels, likely GAD and likely MDD. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Stress and anxiety among physicians during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region: An online survey

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253903
Author(s):  
Banaz A. Saeed ◽  
Nazar P. Shabila ◽  
Aram Jalal Aziz
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Kurdistan Region ◽  
Iraqi Kurdistan ◽  
Severe Anxiety

Background During infectious disease outbreaks, healthcare workers are at high risk of infection, infecting others, and psychological distress. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of stress and anxiety in physicians during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and assess their associated factors. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan Region, from March 28 to April 15, 2020. An online self-administered survey questionnaire was used to collect data from physicians working in specialized COVID-19 centers and other healthcare facilities. The level of stress was measured based on the 10-items Perceived Stress Scale. The level of anxiety was measured based on the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. Results A total of 370 participants responded to the perceived stress component of the survey, of whom 57 (15.4%) had low perceived stress, 249 (67.3%) had moderate stress, and 64 (17.3%) had high stress. Being female was significantly associated with having moderate/high stress (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.40 (95% CI 1.31–4.39)). A total of 201 participants responded to the generalized anxiety disorder component of the survey, of whom 19 (9.5%) had no anxiety, 57 (28.4%) had mild anxiety, 79 (39.3%) had moderate anxiety, and 46 (22.9%) had severe anxiety. Working in COVID-19 centers (AOR = 2.23 (95% CI 1.02–4.86)) and being general practitioners (AOR = 4.16 (95% CI 1.14–15.14)) were significantly associated with having moderate/severe anxiety. Conclusion A considerable proportion of physicians experience stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak in Iraqi Kurdistan region. Generalists and those in special COVID-19 units report the greatest anxiety. There a need to establish mechanisms to reduce the risks of stress and anxiety among physicians. Mental health coping interventions through counseling should be based on COVID-19 protocol guidelines. Interventions should also emphasize physicians’ ability to work safely and efficiently in providing care to the patients.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic: Demographic Predictors of Self-Isolation or Self-Quarantine and Impact of Isolation and Quarantine on Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nnamdi Nkire ◽  
Kelly Mrklas ◽  
Marianne Hrabok ◽  
April Gusnowski ◽  
Wesley Vuong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Sudden Onset ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Generalized Anxiety

Introduction: With the sudden onset and global dispersal of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, many nations including Canada attempted to reduce spread of the resultant COVID-19 syndrome with self-isolation and quarantine, while seeking a cure or vaccine for this disease. Understanding impacts of self-isolation and self-quarantine on stress, anxiety, and depression will help us to mitigate these issues through appropriate development of mental health services.Methods: The sample was drawn from individuals who self-subscribed to Text4Hope, a service that delivers text messages based on a cognitive behavioral therapy framework. Text4Hope was developed to support Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subscribers were asked for demographic information and if they had to self-isolate or self-quarantine during the pandemic via a survey link. Mental health was assessed using the validated instruments: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item scale (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test results were derived using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version-26.Results: 6,041 of 32,805 Text4Hope subscribers (18.4%) completed the survey. Of these respondents, 19.2% had self-isolated or self-quarantined in Alberta as of March 31, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-hoc analysis using adjusted residuals suggested that individuals aged 60 years of age or older, and retirees had a higher likelihood of self-isolation or self-quarantine, compared to respondents with other age or employment characteristics. One-week prevalence rates for self-reported measures of moderate to high stress, likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and likely Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) were 84.9, 46.7, and 41.4%, respectively. Respondents who had to self-isolate or self-quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly more likely to present with moderate to high stress, significant anxiety symptomatology, and significant depressive symptomatology.Conclusions: Older age and employment status were significantly associated with the likelihood of self-isolation or self-quarantine. We found elevated self-reported levels of anxiety and depression associated with self-reported COVID-19 pandemic-related self-isolation and self-quarantine activity. These findings have mental health implications both during and after the pandemic and demonstrate the need for greater focus on psychological complications of self-isolation and self-quarantine, and development of optimal ways to manage these pandemic consequences.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health: Prevalence and Correlates of New-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in a Canadian Province

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 6986
Author(s):  
Adam Abba-Aji ◽  
Daniel Li ◽  
Marianne Hrabok ◽  
Reham Shalaby ◽  
April Gusnowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Background: This cross-sectional online survey investigates the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Methods: OCD symptoms, moderate/high stress, likely generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and likely major depressive disorder (MDD) were assessed with the Brief Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (BOCS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale, respectively. Results: Out of 32,805 individuals subscribed to Text4Hope, 6041 completed an online survey; the response rate was 18.4%. Overall, 60.3% of respondents reported onset of OCD symptoms and 53.8% had compulsions to wash hands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents who showed OCD symptoms only since the start of COVID-19 were significantly more likely to have moderate/high stress (z = 6.4, p < 0.001), likely GAD (z = 6.0, p < 0.001), and likely MDD (z = 2.7, p < 0.01). Similarly, respondents who engaged in compulsive hand washing were significantly more likely to have moderate/high stress (z = 4.6, p < 0.001) and likely GAD (z = 4.6 p < 0.001), but not likely MDD (z = 1.4, p = 0.16). Conclusion: The prevalence of OCD symptoms increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a rate significantly higher than pre-pandemic rates reported for the sample population. Presenting with OCD symptoms increased the likelihood of presenting with elevated stress, likely GAD, and likely MDD.

The effects of co-morbidity on the onset and persistence of generalized anxiety disorder in the ICPE surveys

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1213-1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. KESSLER ◽  
L. H. ANDRADE ◽  
R. V. BIJL ◽  
D. R. OFFORD ◽  
O. V. DEMLER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Composite International Diagnostic Interview ◽  
The United States ◽  
Elevated Risk ◽  
World Health ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
First Onset ◽  
History Of

Background. Although it is well known that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is highly co-morbid with other mental disorders, little is known about the extent to which earlier disorders predict the subsequent first onset and persistence of GAD. These associations are examined in the current report using data from four community surveys in the World Health Organization (WHO) International Consortium in Psychiatric Epidemiology (ICPE).Method. The surveys come from Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess DSM-III-R anxiety, mood and substance use disorders in these surveys. Discrete-time survival analysis was used to examine the associations of retrospectively reported earlier disorders with first onset of GAD. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations of the disorders with persistence of GAD.Results. Six disorders predict first onset of GAD in all four surveys: agoraphobia, panic disorder, simple phobia, dysthymia, major depression and mania. With the exception of simple phobia, only respondents with active disorders have elevated risk of GAD. In the case of simple phobia, in comparison, respondents with a history of remitted disorder also have consistently elevated risk of GAD. Simple phobia is also the only disorder that predicts the persistence of GAD.Conclusions. The causal processes linking temporally primary disorders to onset of GAD are likely to be state-dependent. History of simple phobia might be a GAD risk marker. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms involved in the relationship between simple phobia and subsequent GAD.

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