Abstract
BackgroundSelf-report data on mental distress indicate a deterioration of population mental health in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Norwegian epidemiological diagnostic psychiatric interview survey was conducted from January to September 2020, allowing for comparison of mental disorder and suicidal ideation prevalence from before through different pandemic periods. Prevalence of suicide deaths were compared between 2020 and 2014–2018.MethodsParticipants from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Trondheim were recruited through repeated probability sampling. Using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 5.0) (n = 2154), current prevalence of mental disorders and suicidal ideation was examined in repeated cross-sectional analyzes. Data on suicide deaths was retrieved from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry and compared for the months March to May in 2014–2018 and 2020.FindingsPrevalence of current mental disorders decreased significantly from the pre-pandemic period (January 28th to March 11th 2020; 15•3% (95% CI 12•4–18•8)) to the first pandemic period (March 12th – May 31st; 8•7% (6•8–11•0)). Prevalences were similar between the pre-pandemic period and the interim (June 1st July 31st; 14•2% (11•4–17•5)) and second periods (August 1st-September 18th; 11•9% (9•0–15•6)). No significant differences were observed in suicidal ideation or in suicide deaths.InterpretationExcept for a decrease in mental disorders in the first pandemic period, the findings suggest stable levels of mental disorders, suicidal ideation and suicide deaths during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. Potential methodological and contextual explanations of these findings compared with findings from other studies are discussed.FundingNone.
Highlights
Research in contextEvidence before this studyWe searched APA Psychinfo, OVID Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science with the search terms COVID-19, SARSCOV2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, mental health, depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviour and drug abuse or variations of these search terms for articles in English published until December 3rd 2020 with no limitation on start date
No statistical difference in prevalence of current mental disorders was found in the period the two modes of data-collection were used simultaneously (face-to-face: 14Á4%, telephone: 12Á4%, p = 0Á540)
No significant difference in prevalence was found between the pre-pandemic period and the interim and the second periods in the total sample
Summary
Research in contextEvidence before this studyWe searched APA Psychinfo, OVID Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science with the search terms COVID-19, SARSCOV2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, mental health, depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviour and drug abuse or variations of these search terms for articles in English published until December 3rd 2020 with no limitation on start date. One study used a validated diagnostic scoring tool, and reported a 10% increase in at least one common mental disorder in the first month of the pandemic compared with baseline measures from 2017 in a Czech sample of 3021 participants. A Norwegian epidemiological diagnostic psychiatric interview survey was conducted from January to September 2020, allowing for comparison of mental disorder and suicidal ideation prevalence from before through different pandemic periods. Using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 5.0) (n = 2154), current prevalence of mental disorders and suicidal ideation was examined in repeated cross-sectional analyzes. Interpretation: Except for a decrease in mental disorders in the first pandemic period, the findings suggest stable levels of mental disorders, suicidal ideation and suicide deaths during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels.
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