The COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: Depressive symptoms immediately before and after the first lockdown.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Italy was one of the first countries to be heavily hit by the spread of the new Coronavirus. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the real effect of COVID-19 on adult mental health. The Italian Twin Registry carried out a study to investigate, over time, the course of depressive symptoms in the general population.Methods
The study relies on data collected just before the beginning (February 2020) and the end (June 2020) of the first lockdown. Symptoms of depression were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, and total scores or categorized depression scores were considered in the analyzes.Results
A total of 1690 adult twins were recruited. The study showed a mean depression score of 1.11 immediately before lockdown and 1.20 immediately after, with an overall prevalence of depressive symptoms increasing from 33.6 to 38.9%. Depressive symptoms immediately after the restriction period were associated with Covid-19 symptoms affecting households, financial problems due to the pandemic and poor social support. Independently of the baseline risk of depressive symptoms, we observed an increased risk among younger and less educated people. Compared to the pre-lockdown period, women and middle-aged people also were found to be at greater risk of developing depressive symptoms.Limitations
Possible participation bias and residual selection bias.Conclusions
The study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increased depressive symptomatology and that, in such health emergency times, the most vulnerable persons are young adults, women, and those living in a socially, culturally, or economically disadvantaged environment.
SUBMITTER: Medda E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8557388 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC7329680 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundRestrictions due to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has produced a large number of effects on mental health, which are expected to endure over time. In this study, we assessed depressive symptom levels before the COVID-19 pandemic, from January 2018 to December 2019, and during the pandemic in Italy in 2020.MethodsWe used the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), which is a screening instrument devised to detect probable depression and which has been annually administered in the framework of the Italian Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System since 2008. Depressive symptoms were assessed in a sample of 41,362 18-64-year-old adults surveyed in 2018-2019 and in a sample of 14,612 adults surveyed in 2020.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms increased from 6.1% (95% CI 5.8%-6.4%) in 2018-2019 to 7.1% (95% CI 5.6%-8.6%) in March-April 2020. It then declined in May-June to 4.4% (95% CI 3.2%-5.5%) but in July-August it once again increased to 8.2% (95% CI 6.0%-10.4%) and, finally, gradually returned above the pre-lockdown level by November-December 2020 (5.9%; 95% CI 4.7%-7.1%). Compared to before the health crisis, during the pandemic, women and individuals with financial difficulties were found to have a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms while younger, individuals with a higher education and those living in South Italy became increasingly vulnerable.ConclusionsWhile the average response to the pandemic was one of resilience over time, women and younger individuals were found to be particularly prone to the risk of depressive symptoms, as a result of the pandemic. In future investigations, the risk of individuals living in the South of Italy should also be taken into consideration.
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Project description:BackgroundParents have faced substantial social and economic challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary cross-sectional research has demonstrated increases in mental health problems in mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with pre-pandemic estimates. We aimed to study an existing longitudinal cohort of mothers to assess changes in the prevalence of maternal depression and anxiety symptoms as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic over time and at the individual level.MethodsIn this longitudinal observational study, women who took part in the All Our Families pregnancy cohort in Canada were invited to complete a COVID-19 impact survey between May 20 and July 15, 2020. Women who had not agreed to additional research, had discontinued, were lost to follow-up, or who were not contactable via email were excluded. Maternal depression and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic were compared with three previous estimates collected at 3, 5, and 8-year timepoints (between April, 2012, and October, 2019). Depression symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Repeated cross-sectional analyses were done to assess temporal trends and fixed-effects regression models were fitted to assess within-person change over time.FindingsOf the 3387 women included in the All Our Families study, 2445 women were eligible and were invited to participate in the COVID-19 impact study, of whom 1333 consented to participate, and 1301 were included in the longitudinal analysis. At the COVID-19 impact survey timepoint, a higher proportion of mothers had clinically significant depression (35·21%, 95% CI 32·48-38·04) and anxiety symptoms (31·39%, 28·76-34·15) than at all previous data collection timepoints. The mean depression score (8·31, 95% CI 7·97-8·65) and anxiety score (11·90, 11·66-12·13) at the COVID-19 pandemic timepoint were higher than previous data collection waves at the 3-year timepoint (mean depression score 5·05, 4·85-5·25; mean anxiety score 9·51, 9·35-9·66), 5-year timepoint (mean depression score 5·43, 5·20-5·66; mean anxiety score 9·49, 9·33-9·65), and 8-year timepoint (mean depression score 5·79, 5·55-6·02; mean anxiety score 10·26, 10·10-10·42). For the within-person comparisons, depression scores were a mean of 2·30 points (95% CI 1·95-2·65) higher and anxiety scores were a mean of 1·04 points (0·65-1·43) higher at the COVID-19 pandemic timepoint, after controlling for time trends. Larger increases in depression and anxiety symptoms were observed for women who had income disruptions, difficulty balancing home schooling with work responsibilities, and those with difficulty obtaining childcare. White mothers had greater increases in anxiety scores than non-white mothers and health-care workers had smaller increases in depressive symptoms than non-health-care workers.InterpretationCompared with previous estimates, the prevalence of maternal depression and anxiety among mothers in a Canadian cohort increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial support, childcare provision, and avoiding the closure of schools, might be key priorities for preventing future increases in maternal psychological distress.FundingAlberta Innovates Health Solutions Interdisciplinary Team, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Innovates, and Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation.
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Project description:Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and the leading cause of disability among adolescents, with sleep duration as its vital influential factor. Adolescents might be mentally sensitive to the stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the alteration of adolescents' sleep duration, depression, and their associations within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been well documented. We conducted a longitudinal study, recruiting 2496 adolescents from 3 junior high schools to examine the alteration of their sleep duration and depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic, and to explore their potential association(s). Data were collected before (December 2019) and during the pandemic (July 2020). Paired samples t-test revealed a significant decrease in sleep duration and a significant increase in depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher grades, COVID-19 infection history, higher CES-DC score, and the COVID-19 pandemic itself might contribute to decreased sleep duration, while longer exercise duration during the pandemic might be a protective factor. According to the cross-lagged analysis, the existence of depressive symptoms before the pandemic was significantly associated with a shorter sleep duration during the pandemic (β = -0.106, p < 0.001). Previously shortened sleep duration was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of depressive symptoms during the pandemic (β = -0.082, p < 0.001). Our findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has a negative influence on adolescents' mental health and sleep. Mental preparedness should be highlighted to mitigate the psychosocial influences of any possible public emergencies in the future. Sleep duration represents a viable home-based intervention for depressive symptoms.
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Project description:ObjectiveThis study aimed to estimate the occurrence of depressive symptoms in a global population of young, middle-aged and older adults amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Study data also assessed the impact of the social restrictions caused by the pandemic on depressive symptomatology.MethodsA self-administered internet-based survey was completed by 111,225 individuals residing in 176 countries (March-April 2020). We retained: demographic data, depressive symptoms (PHQ8), anxieties specific to the COVID-19, personality traits (Big-Five Personality Questionnaire), comorbidity frequency, health quality, behavioral variables (i,e., staying at home, avoiding social gatherings, social distancing in the past week). Occurrence of depressive symptoms was estimated using standard cut-offs (total PHQ8 score ≥ 10). Hierarchical regression modeling examined correlates of depressive symptoms (PHQ8 score) in three groups stratified by age, i.e., 18-34, 35-54 and 55+ years.ResultsModerate to severe depressive symptoms were present in 27% of young, 15% middle-aged and 9% older adults. Younger age, female gender, not partnered, higher anxiety, and poorer health were associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Staying at home/not attending social gatherings were minor contributors to depressive symptoms in young and middle-aged adults. These were not significant in older adults. Social distancing was a marginal contributor in middle-aged and near significant in older adults, but not significant in young adults.ConclusionsThe occurrence of depressive symptoms is decreasing with advancing age. Increased risk of depressive symptoms was associated with being a younger adult, females, single/divorced, poorer health and higher anxiety. In all age groups, the presence of depressive symptoms was greater than global estimates preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. Social restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic were marginal risks for depressive symptoms.
| S-EPMC9838027 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The objective was to investigate the association between deprivation and COVID-19 outcomes in Italy during pre-lockdown, lockdown and post-lockdown periods using a retrospective cohort study with 38,534,169 citizens and 222,875 COVID-19 cases. Multilevel negative binomial regression models, adjusting for age, sex, population-density and region of residence were conducted to evaluate the association between area-level deprivation and COVID-19 incidence, case-hospitalisation rate and case-fatality. During lockdown and post-lockdown, but not during pre-lockdown, higher incidence of cases was observed in the most deprived municipalities compared with the least deprived ones. No differences in case-hospitalisation and case-fatality according to deprivation were observed in any period under study.
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Project description:Objectives: This study examined the trajectory of perinatal depressive symptoms in Portuguese women during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of individual, relational, and contextual risk and protective factors. Methods: This 3-wave longitudinal study followed 290 pregnant women from the third trimester of pregnancy until 6-months postpartum. Women self-reported on depressive symptoms, psychological (anxiety, perceived stress, mindfulness), relational (perceived social support, dyadic adjustment, sexual wellbeing), and contextual (lockdown status) factors. Results: Women who were under strict lockdown presented significantly higher scores of depressive symptoms at baseline (by 1.38 EPDS points) than women who were not under strict lockdown measures. Mixed Growth Models showed that trajectories of depressive symptoms were explained by differences in women's baseline depression. Differences in women's depressive symptoms at baseline were mainly explained by higher anxiety and lower social support (22% and 24% for women under lockdown; 39% and 6% for women not on lockdown, respectively). Conclusion: Preventative interventions targeted at pregnant women should aim to reduce anxiety and enhance women's social support to prevent depression in pregnancy and postpartum during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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