Anxiety and Depression among Individuals who are Confined to their Homes due to Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Aims/objectives: Coronavirus pandemic has been declared a health emergency worldwide. Millions of people have been affected by it. The objective of this study was to assess anxiety and depression among people who are confined to their homes due to the covid-19 pandemic so that measures can be taken to reduce the frequency and effects of psychological distress during mass lockdowns in the future.Materials and methods: The study population consisted of educated adults of Rawalpindi and Islamabad who have been under strict lockdown. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used. Informed consent was taken. Data were collected via a questionnaire based on the HADS scale. For data analysis, SPSS version 25 was used.Results: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 615 individuals, out of which 15 did not meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The majority were females (80.2%). The average age was 22.6 years. 37.5% were found to have anxiety, whereas 21% had depression. Borderline cases of anxiety and depression were 27.5% and 28.3%, respectively. The frequency of anxiety and depression was found to be higher in females than males, 39.5% vs 29.4%, and 22.4% vs 11.5% respectively. The correlation of HADS scores with other demographic parameters was studied, but no significant relationship was found.Conclusions: The study reveals a high prevalence of anxiety and depression among individuals during lockdowns. The development of a comprehensive educational and emotional support system is required for the improvement of the mental health of individuals.