Related Fear Research Articles

Edgar Wind and Modern Art: In Defence of Marginal Anarchy

Edgar Wind and Modern Art: In Defence of Marginal Anarchy

Testing Functional Analytic Psychotherapy's mediational model of change in social connectedness for people with fear of intimacy

In efforts to decrease psychological distress, psychotherapy frequently focuses on a client's intimate relationships and connectedness with others. One contextual-behavioral approach, Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), aims to do so by employing the therapeutic relationship to shape improvements in the clients' in-session interpersonal behaviors. In a recent randomized trial of a FAP intervention for dyads who wanted to improve their relationships (Kanter et al., 2018), clients who presented with fear of intimacy were specifically taught in-session interpersonal skills to improve intimate behaviors and connectedness within dyads and reduce related fears. The current study employed a secondary analysis of those data and tested a mediational model in which decreases in fear of intimacy from pre-treatment to post-treatment for these participants would be associated with increases in social connectedness, and this association would be mediated by increases in self-reported intimacy-related behaviors. Results indicated that as fear of intimacy decreased, social connectedness increased, and this association was partially mediated by self-reported improvements in the intimacy-related behaviors targeted by the intervention. Thus, findings support a model in which fear of intimacy is associated with avoidance of intimacy-related behaviors which in turn decreases social connectedness; when these behaviors are targeted and improved, fear of intimacy may decrease and social connectedness may increase.

A follow-up study on treatment effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy on social anxiety disorder: Impact of COVID-19 fear during post-lockdown period

There is a paucity of research on the role of COVID-19 related fear and lockdown on social anxiety disorder (SAD). In a follow-up study during post-lockdown period, we compared social anxiety of individuals with SAD who received cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) versus psychoeducational-supportive therapy (PST) before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of COVID-19 related fear. Social anxiety severity was rated by the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and post-lockdown periods. Fear of COVID-19 was assessed during the post-lockdown period. The treatment effects in the CBT group (n = 33) were significantly better than the PST group (n = 32) at post-intervention; this was maintained at 14-months following intervention despite COVID-related lockdown. In the PST group, there was no change following the intervention; and the social phobia increased after lockdown. The CBT group had significantly less COVID-19 related fear than the PST group. Social anxiety was positively correlated with fear of COVID-19; and individuals with comorbidities had significantly more fear. Using the hierarchical multiple regression, SPIN post-intervention, COVID-19 fear, and duration of SAD predicted social anxiety severity during the post-lockdown period. In conclusion, the effect of CBT for SAD was maintained through lockdown and was associated with significantly less COVID-19 related fear.

Impact of Systematic Tailored Assessment for Responding to Suicidality (STARS) Protocol Training on Mental Health Professionals' Attitudes, Perceived Capabilities, Knowledge, and Reluctance to Intervene.

Background and AimsSystematic Tailored Assessment for Responding to Suicidality (STARS) protocol and associated training were developed with the key objectives of supporting clinicians to conduct a suicide enquiry, obtaining a comprehensive account of psycho-social factors contributing to suicidality, and collaboratively developing a safety plan with clients. STARS training aims to address knowledge, attitudes and capabilities that influence intervention behavior/skills. This study aimed to examine associations between clinician characteristics and pre-training competencies in suicide risk assessment (SRA), as well as the impact of STARS training workshop on clinician competencies; and to determine the predictors of SRA training outcomes.MethodAustralian mental health professionals working with suicidal persons who undertook the STARS 2-day face-to-face workshop between 2018 and 2020 completed an online survey at pre- and post-training. Of the 222 participants who completed the pre-training questionnaire, 144 (64.9%) also completed the post-training questionnaire. Participants were mostly female (75.7%), had completed a university degree (86.4%), had <10 years of experience in suicide prevention (71.7%), and were allied and mental health professionals (78.1%). We used linear mixed-effects regression for statistical analyses.ResultsSTARS participants who reported higher perceived capability at baseline had significantly greater formal and informal training, more years of experience in suicide prevention, and were more likely to have experienced client suicide and/or suicide attempt and to report fewer SRA related fears. We found overall significant positive impacts of STARS training on clinician competencies (attitudes, perceived capability, declarative knowledge) from pre- to post-training. The most distinct changes following STARS training were for perceived capability and declarative knowledge. Participants who had more positive attitudes after training were significantly more likely to have had less prior supervision/mentoring. Reluctance to intervene was not found to significantly change after training.ConclusionsWe found evidence that attitudes, perceived capability and declarative knowledge changed positively from pre- to post-STARS training among mental health professionals. Underpinned by the minimum standardized SRA competencies, STARS training may be critical for informing evidence-based knowledge and skills in SRA and safety planning.

A hippocampus dependent neural circuit loop underlying the generation of auditory mismatch negativity

Extracting relevant information and transforming it into appropriate behavior, is a fundamental brain function, and requires the coordination between the sensory and cognitive systems, however, the underlying mechanisms of interplay between sensory and cognition systems remain largely unknown. Here, we developed a mouse model for mimicking human auditory mismatch negativity (MMN), a well-characterized translational biomarker for schizophrenia, and an index of early auditory information processing. We found that a subanesthetic dose of ketamine decreased the amplitude of MMN in adult mice. Using pharmacological and chemogenetic approaches, we identified an auditory cortex–entorhinal cortex–hippocampus neural circuit loop that is required for the generation of MMN. In addition, we found that inhibition of dCA1→MEC circuit impaired the auditory related fear discrimination. Moreover, we found that ketamine induced MMN deficiency by inhibition of long-range GABAergic projection from the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus to the medial entorhinal cortex. These results provided circuit insights for ketamine effects and early auditory information processing. As the entorhinal cortex is the interface between the neocortex and hippocampus, and the hippocampus is critical for the formation, consolidation, and retrieval of episodic memories and other cognition, our results provide a neural mechanism for the interplay between the sensory and cognition systems.

COVID-19 Related Mental Health Issues among Patients with Cancer: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with more psychological distress than its rampant spread, mortality, and morbidity. Cancer patients are at increased risk of mortality and morbidity than the general population. Due to this, there is a possibility that cancer patients may be suffering from a higher level of COVID-19 related anxiety, fear, and obsession. Aim: To explore COVID-19 related mental health issues (anxiety, fear, and obsession) and its correlates in patients with cancer. Materials and Methods: The present study was a crosssectional pilot study which was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital located in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India. Patients receiving treatment for cancer (n=55) consequently at tertiary care teaching hospital of India were recruited. The Corona Anxiety Scale (CAS), Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7) were used to assess all eligible patients. Fisher’sexact test, spearman’s rank correlation, and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results: Among the 55 patients (mean age was 49.64±13.08 years) with cancer, 11 (20%) had Coronavirus related anxiety and 2 (3.6%) had obsession related COVID-19, 22 (40%) had depression and 18 (32.7%) has GAD. CAS score positively correlated with FCV-19S score [ρ=0.50 (p&lt;0.001)], PHQ-9 score [ρ=0.90 (p&lt;0.001)] and GAD-7 score [ρ=0.74 (p&lt;0.001)]. Conclusion: COVID-19 related mental health issues (fear, anxiety), depression, and GAD were prevalent among patients with cancer. Further, COVID-19 specific issues may not be addressed in routine screening and evaluation in current practice. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop systematic strategies to screen and develop specific mental health interventions for patients with cancer

Abstract- Poster

Background:The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s lives globally. It has affected not only physical health but also the mental well-being of the population. The pandemic itself and the subsequent lockdown brought various socio-economic hardships and stressors. These environmental and psychological factors played a central role in shaping novel psychopathological presentations.Aims:These case series aim to elucidate the role of the covid 19 pandemic in influencing the psychopathological presentation and development of psychiatric illness.Methods:Three cases uniquely impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic were identified, and structured clinical assessments were carried out. Case 1 shows how societal fears and perceptions centering around the covid 19 pandemic impacted and crept into psychopathology. Case 2 highlights the role of covid related lockdown and fear of contracting illness resulting in sensory deprivation, which lead to the emergence of psychotic symptoms in an elderly male. Case 3 depicts the onset of obsessive fear of contamination & contracting Covid infection and subsequent compulsions associated with other obsessions.Results:An understanding of the proximal and distal factors and environmental factors shaping psychopathology is vital. Early identification of these factors and prompt treatment leads to good recovery and beneficial results despite prevailing uncertainty about the pandemicConclusion:Above case series highlights the need to have better understanding of the various factors that affect the presentation of psychiatric illness, and further qualitative studies are warranted.

Moral Distress Experienced by US Nurses on the Frontlines During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Nursing Policy and Practice.

IntroductionThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic represents the largest contemporary challenge to the nursing workforce in the 21st century given the high stress and prolonged strain it has created for both human and healthcare supply resources. Nurses on the frontlines providing patient care during COVID-19 have faced unrivaled psychological and physical demands. However, no known large-scale qualitative study has described the emotions experienced by nurses providing patient care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Objective: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to qualitatively describe the emotions experienced by US nurses during the initial COVID-19 pandemic response.MethodsOne hundred individual interviews were conducted with nurses across the United States from May to September of 2020 asking participants to describe how they felt taking care of COVID-19 patients. All interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide, were audio recorded, transcribed, verified, and coded by the research team.ResultsParticipants narratives of the emotions they experienced providing patient care during COVID-19 unequivocally described (1) moral distress, and moral distress related (1.1) fear, (1.2) frustration, (1.3) powerlessness, and (1.4) guilt. In sum, the major emotional response of nurses across the US providing patient care during the pandemic was that of moral distress.ConclusionInvestments in healthcare infrastructures that address moral distress in nurses may improve retention and reduce burnout in the US nursing workforce.

LEGAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 VACCINATION BEFORE AND AFTER THE 2022 RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE.

The study aims to develop ways of solving the social and legal problems of vaccination against COVID-19, showing them the example of Ukraine before and after the beginning of the active phase of Russian aggression. The study is based on international documents and legal acts adopted to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, the survey results of 165 ordinary Ukrainians on vaccination, interviewing health care organizers; statistical information, and content analysis of the media on vaccination, as well as ways of avoiding it. Dialectical, analytical-synthetic, system-structural methods, as well as methods of content analysis, questionnaires, interviews, and included observation, were used. Legal restrictions on the realization of persons’ rights who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are an acceptable remedy, as they aim to protect human rights to life and health. Restrictions on the realization of labor and other rights of unvaccinated persons introduced in Ukraine have caused the following related social-legal problems: a) negative attitude of some persons to human rights’ restrictions due to mandatory vaccination for workers, related fears of the population; c) stratification of the population according to the availability of vaccine of a particular manufacturer; d) background phenomenon in the form of imitation of vaccination with subsequent forgery of certificates. These restrictions have been lifted during the martial law, and anti-epidemic measures are recommendatory. Despite the availability of vaccinations throughout the non-occupied territory, the pace of vaccination has been significantly reduced. Ways of overcoming the adverse socio-legal problems of vaccination and related background phenomena are to conduct quality information campaigns to inform the public about the benefits and safety of vaccination, counter misinformation, increase the availability of vaccines with a choice of vaccines from different manufacturers, and increase the effectiveness of criminal legal counteraction to forgery of documents confirming vaccination. After the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, there has been a change in the focus of public attention to solving vital problems, which, along with the transfer of anti-coronavirus restrictions to the status of recommendatory, creates danger of significant reduction in vaccination.

EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC FEAR ON SLEEP DISTURBANCE: AN ANALYSIS AMONG VACCINATED AND NON-VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN BAHAWALPUR CITY

The current study was conducted to explore the effects of Covid-19 pandemic fear in relation to the quality of sleep among vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals living in Bahawalpur City. For this purpose, a sample of (N=100) participants were selected out of which (n=50) were vaccinated and (n=50) were non-vaccinated. Data was collected by using two scales, one was used to check the prevalence of fear because of covid-19 and the second was sleep quality scale (SQS). Data was analyzed by using SPSS. The results from the collected data revealed a higher level of fear among female population. The results reported that the prevalence of fear because of covid-19 was a significant predictor of sleep disturbance among vaccinated individuals and this was positively correlated with the sleep disturbance among non-vaccinated individuals. Keywords: Fear, Covid-19, Sleep Quality, Vaccinated, Non-Vaccinated.

Difficulties Imposed on the Parent-Child Relationship Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The present study tested whether emotionally burdened parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic might appraise their relationship with their children more negatively. The current cross-sectional study was circulated through social media. A total of 265 respondents took part in the study. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between predictor variables and the parent-child relationship. This study's results report that older fathers with higher levels of COVID-19 related fear are more likely to appraise negatively their relationship with their children. Therefore, this study suggests the need for family-level strategies to address better the psychological aspects related to the pandemic outbreak.

The Impact of Maternal Anxiety on Early Child Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Maternal prenatal anxiety is among important public health issues as it may affect child development. However, there are not enough studies to examine the impact of a mother's anxiety on the child's early development, especially up to 1 year.Objective: The present prospective cohort study aimed to examine whether maternal trait anxiety, perceived social support, and COVID-19 related fear impacted speech-language, sensory-motor, and socio-emotional development in 12 months old Serbian infants during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This follow-up study included 142 pregnant women (Time 1) and their children at 12 months (Time 2). Antenatal maternal anxiety and children's development were examined. Maternal anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Child speech-language, sensory-motor, and socio-emotional development were assessed using the developmental scale in the form of an online questionnaire that examined the early psychophysiological child development. Information on socioeconomic factors, child and maternal demographics, clinical factors, and perceived fear of COVID-19 viral infection were collected. Multivariable General Linear Model analysis was conducted, adjusted for demographic, clinical, and coronavirus prenatal experiences, maternal prenatal anxiety levels, perceived social support, speech-language, motor skills, and cognitive and socio-emotional development at the infants' age of 12 months.Results: The study revealed the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal trait anxiety. The association between selected independent factors and infants' development was found in a demographically unified sample except for employment and the number of children. There was a correlation between all observed developmental functions. Univariate General Linear model statistical analysis indicated that linear models with selected independent factors and covariates could account for 30.9% (Cognition) up to 40.6% (Speech-language) of variability in developmental functions. It turned out that two-way and three-way interactions had a dominant role on models, and STAI-T Level and COVID-19 related fear were present in all interaction terms.Conclusion: Our findings reveal important determinants of child developmental outcomes and underline the impact of maternal anxiety on early child development. These findings lay the groundwork for the following interdisciplinary research on pregnancy and child development to facilitate and achieve positive developmental outcomes and maternal mental health.

Impact of postpartum pain and birth pain management on the pelvic floor function. A retrospective study including over 300 mothers

ObjectivesIt is known that pregnancy and childbirth bring biological, psychological and social changes in a woman’s life. Studies regarding the pelvic floor function focus on the year after delivery, but unfortunately, long-term studies are rare. Furthermore, an association between postpartum pain and birth pain management on the pelvic floor function has rarely been examined. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the pelvic floor function years after delivery in order to detect possible risk factors. Study DesignThis is a retrospective cohort study. All women who delivered in our hospital between 2015 and 2016 were contacted by mail between 2018 and 2019 and asked to participate. The letters included study information, declaration of consent, the “Pelvic floor questionnaire for pregnant women and women after childbirth” (PFQ), contact information and pre-paid envelopes. Questions about pain after childbirth and the management of birth related fear and pain were particularly of interest in the surveys. The interested participants were asked to return the completed declaration of consent and the questionnaire. Overall, 308 women were included in the analysis. Due to the large number of participants, different subgroups were defined in order to compare influencing factors adequately. ResultsNo significant association between the mode of delivery and the total score of the PFQ was found after 3–4 years in primiparous women (p = 0.688). Our study also showed that recorded pain after childbirth and insufficient pain and fear management after childbirth had a negative impact on the pelvic floor function (total scores: pain after childbirth p = 0.00; no pain management p = 0.04; no fear management p = 0.021). ConclusionNo association was found between delivery mode and pelvic floor function in primiparous women three to four years after childbirth. On the other hand, a negative impact of birth related pain and fears on the pelvic floor function years after delivery was significant. Therefore, these revealing findings should certainly be considered in postpartum management.

Managing life during the pandemic: communication strategies, mental health, and the ultimate toll of the COVID-19

Background/aim The purpose of this review was to present the ultimate toll of the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on the communication strategies and mental health.Materials and methods We unsystematically reviewed the studies published between 2020 and 2021 from databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science and ScienceDirect. Firstly, “new-normal” life challenges during the pandemic were discussed along with the public risk communication strategies. Later, mental health problems, posttraumatic growth, and protective factors were reviewed. Results Literature highlighted that individuals mainly experience COVID-19 related fear, anxiety, stress, negative emotions and sleep problems. Furthermore, the rates of clinically significant depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder suggest an increase. Specifically, COVID-19 stress syndrome, loneliness, and sleep problems were associated with mental health problems in the pandemic. However, some individuals seem to be resilient to the COVID-19 trauma and experience posttraumatic growth. Brief online intervention studies are promising for reducing the emotional toll of the COVID-19 as well as for making individuals more resilient.Conclusion To conclude, the negative conditions of the pandemic seem to make some people, but not all, vulnerable to mental illness. In addition, framing the public warnings in an optimal emotional tone seems to be more effective to comply with the precautions.

Threat and fear: Pragmatic purposes of emotionalisation in media discourse

The impact of mass media on individuals and society is to a great extent based on emotions. We concentrate on fear as it is one of the basic emotions triggered by risk and threat, which is claimed to play a key role in the twenty-first century consciousness (Furedi 20018). The study focuses on the emotionalisation of fear in contemporary media discourse about Russia, more specifically, on constructions of Russian threat and fear of Russia in Anglo-American media texts to highlight pragmatic effects and to speculate on possible purposes of such discourses. The study aims to explore the functioning of the lexemes threat and fear , in textual contexts with the focus on their pragma-discursive characteristics. It identifies the mechanisms as well as linguistic tools involved in media strategies of scare-mongering. The dataset was derived from quality British and American newspapers in the period 2018-2020, and was analysed drawing on an interdisciplinary approach combining critical discourse analysis, pragmatics, medialinguistics, psycholinguistics and the theory of proximisation. The paper argues that appealing to emotions as well as constructing emotions is aimed at enhancing the persuasive function of media and fulfilling their own agenda. The persistent use of the words threat and fear in relation to Russia as well as the obsessive discussion of this topic in media aim to shape a certain negative public opinion of Russia among readerships. The findings show that to achieve this goal different strategies and linguistic tools are used including: exaggeration, repetition, proximisation, interrogative headlines, presupposition, among others. The results go beyond linguistics, and may find implementation in political studies, since they provide researchers with tools for understanding contemporary social and political processes.

THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGY IN DEVELOPMENT AND DEALING OF FEAR IN HUMANS.

Fear is a simple basic emotion experienced by every single being. It is a fundamental survival mechanism that indicates humans to respond in danger with a ght or ight response in order to keep us safe. Every human body reacts in a different way when it encounters fear. This paper examines the reasons for the growth and prevalence of fear in relation to the mind and the role of psychological intervention in dealing with it. Literature search was done on Google scholar which included the use of keywords ‘fear’, ‘phobias’, ‘psychological intervention’ or ‘emotions. Reference lists having similar titles were also taken into consideration. Available literature search shows that hormones have a vital role in functioning of fear and phobias. Everyone has a different way of dealing with it. An abnormality in processing of fear could potentially lead to psychiatric disorders. Psychology based therapy is an effective way of dealing with it. Fear being an exaggerated emotion needs a plan that works towards the development of its belief. Psychological intervention involving Cognitive behavioural therapy, Rational emotive behaviour therapy, Systematic desensitization and many others have been proved to overcome fears and phobias.

Potentially addictive behaviours increase during the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background and aimsIn this study we aimed to assess multiple potentially addictive behaviours simultaneously for an extended period of time during the Covid-19 pandemic and their relation to distress.MethodsData were collected every three days from Amazon’s MTurk between 26.03.2020 and 02.10.2020 in repeated cross-sectional samples of 25 participants resulting in a total sample of 1430 US adults (60% men, mean age 36.6 years, SD = 11). General distress and Covid-19 related fear were assessed as well as self-reported frequency of eight potentially addictive behaviours: shopping (compulsive buying), alcohol, smoking, legal substances, illegal substances, gambling, gaming and overeating.ResultsWe found a positive relationship between time and the frequency of each self-reported potentially addictive behaviour ( = 0.15–0.23, all P < 0.001), and their frequency is linearly related to the intensity of (Covid-19-related and general) distress ( = 0.12–0.28, all P < 0.001). Most popular activities were gaming and compulsive buying, and the relative frequency of the behaviours remained about the same during the data collection period.DiscussionIt is possible that people seek other maladaptive substitutes when other coping mechanisms (e.g. social recreation) are hindered depending on their level of distress. ConclusionGiven the evidence for the increasing frequency of potentially addictive behaviours and their relevance to distress, special attention needs to be paid to reduce potential harmful effects of maladaptive coping during and after this demanding period.

Associations of Delay in Doctor Consultation With COVID-19 Related Fear, Attention to Information, and Fact-Checking.

Background: Delaying doctor consultation is harmful. Fear of COVID-19 leads to delays in seeking medical care at a time when pandemic information overflows. However, little is known about the role of COVID-19 related fear, attention to information, and fact-checking in such delay.Objective: Under the Hong Kong Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project, we examined the associations of delay in doctor consultation amidst the pandemic with sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 related fear, attention to information, and fact-checking.Methods: We conducted a population-based online cross-sectional survey in May 2020 on Hong Kong Chinese adults. Respondents reported whether the pandemic caused any delay in doctor consultation (yes/no), level of COVID-19 related fear, attention to information and fact-checking (all on a scale of 0 to 10 and recoded into tertiles of low, moderate, high). Regression analyses were used to examine the associations of delay and fear with sociodemographic characteristics, attention and fact-checking, adjusting for covariates. Data were weighted by sex, age and education level of the population.Results: Of 4,551 respondents (46.5% male, 59.7% aged over 45 years), 10.1% reported delay in doctor consultation. The mean score was 6.4 for fear, 8.0 for attention and 7.4 for fact-checking. Delay was more common in males and increased with age and fear. High vs. low level of fear was associated with delay [adjusted odd ratios (AOR) 2.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.08, 3.47]. Moderate level of fact-checking was negatively associated with delay (AOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56, 0.92). Females reported greater fear and fear decreased with age. Fear increased with attention to information and decreased with fact-checking. Fear substantially mediated the association of delay with attention (96%) and fact-checking (30%).Conclusions: We have first shown that delay in doctor consultation increased with fear of COVID-19 and decreased with fact-checking amidst the pandemic. Fear also increased with attention to COVID-19 related information and decreased with fact-checking. Understanding these associations can help policymakers develop targeted communication and support to the public to reduce delayed doctor consultations and the associated COVID-19-related or unrelated morbidity and mortality in the community.

COVID-19 related fear and depression of pregnant women and new mothers.

To explore factors associated with depression and COVID-19 related fear among pregnant women and new mothers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in China from July 2020 to July 2021. A total of 3027 pregnant and new mothers were recruited. Sociodemographic characteristics and the perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic were collected. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Fear Scale was used to assess the depressive and fear level towards the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Approximately 17.2% of the participants had depression (PHQ-9 ≥10). In Hong Kong, participants who perceived that they have increased knowledge to prevent infection were less likely to have depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.74-0.94). There was no association between perceived severity if infected and severity of spread and the depression level in our sample. An inverse relationship was found between the COVID-19 related fear level and perceived knowledge to prevent infection(Beta-coefficient [β]=-0.20; 95% CI=-0.38 to -0.02). Public health nurses need to promote accurate and up to date COVID-19 related information at clinical and community settings and implement effective screening for depression and fear symptoms to identify these high-risk groups to improve women's psychological well-being.

COVID-19 Related Fears of Patients Admitted to a Psychiatric Emergency Department during and Post-Lockdown in Switzerland: Preliminary Findings to Look Ahead for Tailored Preventive Mental Health Strategies.

Background and Objectives: While the impact on mental health of 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) has been extensively documented, little is known about its influence on subjective fears. Here, we investigate the COVID-19 impact and its related restrictions on fears of patients admitted to a psychiatric Emergency Department (ED) during and post-lockdown. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study on 1477 consultations at the psychiatric ED of the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG) was performed using a mixed-methods analysis. The first analysis section was qualitative, aiming to explore the type of fears, while the second section statistically compared fears (i) during lockdown (16 March 2020–10 May 2020) and (ii) post-lockdown (11 May 2020–5 July 2020). Fears were also explored among different patient-age sub-groups. Results: 334 patients expressed one/more fears. Both in lockdown and post-lockdown, fears mostly pertained to “containment measures” (isolation, loneliness). When compared lockdown vs. post-lockdown, fears about “work status” (deteriorating, losing work) prevailed in lockdown (p = 0.029) while “hopelessness” (powerless feeling, inability to find solutions) in post-lockdown (p = 0.001). “Self around COVID-19” (dying, getting sick) fear was relatively more frequent in youth (p = 0.039), while “hopelessness” in the elderly (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Collectively, these findings highlight that lockdown/post-lockdown periods generated temporally and demographically distinct COVID-19 related fears patterns, with special regard to youth and elderly, two particularly vulnerable populations when faced with sudden and unexpected dramatic events. For this reason, the particular ED “front-line service” status makes it a privileged observatory that can provide novel insights. From a mental health perspective, these latter can be translated into pragmatic, more personalized prevention strategies to reinforce specific resilience resources and mitigate the current and long-term pandemic’s impact.