Evaluation of the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Chinese Patients with Common Mental Disorders in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Chinese patients with common mental disorders in primary care in Hong Kong. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 102 Chinese patients with common mental disorders and being followed up in two public integrated mental health clinics in Hong Kong from 1st November 2020 to 31st January 2021. Patients would be evaluated about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their mood and daily life by using a questionnaire which assessed social distancing effects, financial impact, relationship with family, anxiety and depressive symptoms. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 Questionnaire (GAD-7) would also be used to assess patients’ mood symptoms. Factors which were related to COVID-19 pandemic and associated with anxiety or depressive symptoms would be analysed. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 58.0 years and more patients were female (77.5%). There were 84.3% and 72.5% of patients reported their anxiety and depressive symptoms being affected by COVID-19 pandemic respectively. It was found that 17.6% of patients had their income decreased or were unemployed. About one-third (30.4%) of patients indicated that their relationship with their family was worsened while 8.8% was improved. Social distancing was significantly associated with anxiety (p = 0.006) and depressive symptoms (p 0.001) in patients with common mental disorders. Conclusion: There was considerably more psychological impact including an increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms due to COVID-19 pandemic in Chinese patients with existing common mental disorders in primary care. Primary care physicians should raise their awareness of the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their patients. Our findings shed light on mental health care planning and preventive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and potential subsequent pandemics.