Anxiety and Depressive Disorder Admissions to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic - A Descriptive Study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders at the GPHC POC 2019 -2021; and the percentage of these patients who were healthcare workers. This is a cross sectional study involving 3170 charts, 68 charts were identified for analysis. Variables were collected and the incidence of disorders calculated. Data was analyzed using Microsoft excel. The incidence of each disorder was as follows (the percentage of patients who were healthcare workers are listed in brackets): anxiety disorder - 2019 8% (32%), 2020 9% (15%), 2021 11% (18%); depressive disorders - 2019 13% (45%), 2020 17% (38%), 2021 16% (18%). Data for the health care group: 15% depressive illness and 9% anxiety illness. By sex: 2019 64% females, 36% males, 2020 46% females and 54% males, 2021 58% females and 42% males. By age group: 16-25 24%, 25-35 21%, 36-45 14%, 46-55 16%, >55 24%. Relationship status: 2019 68% single, 2020 69% single, 2021 55% single. Most affected: nurses 2019 31%, doctors 2020 38%, nurses 2021 36%. The incidence of anxiety disorders increased progressively during the years of the pandemic. The incidence of depressive disorders increased significantly in 2020 and then had a small decrease in 2021. In 2020, more doctors and males sought help than nurses and females. Nurses and females sought more help in 2021. Healthcare workers who were single, young, and completed tertiary level of education were most affected. Keywords: Anxiety disorders, Depressive disorders, Incidence, Healthcare workers, Pandemic.