Significant Predictors Of Anxiety Research Articles

Depression and anxiety among persons with type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension; A cross-sectional analytical study in the rural field practice area of a tertiary care center in Puducherry

Objectives: To determine the proportion of depression and anxiety disorders; their association with sociodemographic, NCD-related factors and Quality of Life among persons with type II Diabetes Mellitus or Hypertension at a rural health center in Puducherry. Materials and Methods: This facility-based cross-sectional analytical study recruited 692 participants from May 2020 to September 2021. A structured questionnaire collected sociodemographic and NCD-related history; The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and The World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL) - BREF questionnaires for depression, anxiety and QOL assessment, respectively. Independent variables were assessed for relationship with depression and anxiety using univariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to determine the predictors of depression and anxiety. Results: Nearly 17.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] - 13.8%–22.4%) had depression and 12.7% (95% CI - 9.5–16.7%) had anxiety. Age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] - 0.97; 95% CI - 0.95–0.99), depression/anxiety disorders family history (aOR - 2.58; 95% CI - 1.26–5.26), overall QOL score reduction (aOR - 0.76; 95% CI - 0.60–0.97), and social domain score reduction (aOR - 0.98; 95% CI - 0.97–0.99) were the significant predictors of depression. No formal education (aOR - 10.84; 95% CI - 4.54–25.86), being homemaker (aOR - 3.49; 95% CI - 1.29–9.42), no DM/HTN family history (aOR - 1.51; 95% CI - 0.66–1.54), psychological domain score reduction (aOR - 0.97; 95% CI - 0.95–0.99) and environmental domain score reduction (aOR - 0.96; 95% CI - 0.94–0.98) were significant predictors of anxiety. Conclusion: Nearly one-fifth had depression and more than one-tenth had anxiety among the participants. A fair number of persons with HTN/DM have higher anxiety and depressive scores and most domains had a poor QOL score with depression alone having associated with a depression/anxiety family history.

Relationship between Parental Emotional Styles and Family Values to Anxiety Level among Primary School Children

Introduction: Childhood anxiety is one of the common mental health problems in children. Untreated childhood anxiety will lead to a higher risk of developing mental health problems in adulthood. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental emotional styles and family values to anxiety level among primary school children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a selected primary school in Kelantan, Malaysia. A set of questionnaires consisted of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale–Parents’ Report (RCADS-P 25), the Parental Emotional Style Questionnaire (PESQ), and the Asian Family Characteristics Scale (AFCS) was used for assessing anxiety, parental emotional styles, and family values, respectively. Data were collected via an online survey using Google Form, and were analysed using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) to determine the factors associated with childhood anxiety. The significance value was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 150 parents of primary school children from the selected school was involved in this study. The majority of respondents were females (82.0%), married (94.7%), hold a degree (66.7%), and were working in the government sector (60.0%). Most of the respondents’ child were twelve years old (20.7%) and males (62%). Based on the MLR, emotional dismissing parental style (p = 0.025) and family values (p = 0.016) were significantly associated with anxiety in these children. Conclusion: Emotional dismissing parental style and family values were significant predictors of anxiety in primary school children. Future intervention research on childhood anxiety is needed.

A Comparison of Psychological Well-Being, Coping Strategies, and Emotional Problems Between Taiwanese and Australian Nursing Students.

Nursing professional health courses have been reported to be very exhaustive and stressful, with most nursing students reporting moderate levels of stress. This study was designed to compare the spiritual well-being, coping strategies, psychological well-being, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation between Taiwanese and Australian nursing students. Three hundred eighty-one nursing students (180 from Taiwan and 201 from Australia) were recruited for this cross-sectional comparative research study. The Psychological Well-being Scale, Spiritual Well-being Scale, Coping Strategies Inventory Short-Form, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Zung Depression Scale, and Brief Screen for Adolescent Depression Scale were used to collect data. SPSS 27.0 was used for data analysis. Descriptive data analysis, chi-square tests, independent t test, Pearson correlations, and stepwise multiple regressions were used to examine the research questions. Students in Australia had higher mean scores than Taiwanese nursing students for psychological well-being, life satisfaction/self-actualization, and using problem-focused disengagement coping strategies, whereas Taiwanese students had higher mean scores for using emotion-focused engagement coping strategies and depression than their Australian nursing students. Spiritual well-being and problem-focused disengagement were shown to be significantly and positively related to psychological well-being and significantly and negatively related to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in both groups. No significant difference between Australian students and Taiwanese students was found in anxiety, suicidal ideation, and negative-emotion-related alcohol use. The multiple regressions performed in this study support life satisfaction/self-actualization and the emotion-focused disengagement coping strategy as significant predictors of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in both student groups. The findings of this study help nursing program faculty better understand the key factors of influence on nursing student mental health and provide a conceptual framework for using problem-focused coping strategies and spiritual education on students.

Vulnerability to Mental Health Problems in Indian Population during Lockdown amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: An Alarm not to Snooze

Background: Lockdown measures are being implemented in several parts of the world to control the spread of novel coronavirus. This unprecedented crisis has significantly affected the lives of people in different ways. Aim: To understand the experiences and vulnerability to mental health problems during lockdown among the Indian population during COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey form circulated through various social media platforms from April 12 to May 3, 2020 containing self-reported questionnaires to collect lockdown related experiences and scales to assess anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9). A convenience sampling method was used. Results: 442 valid responses were received from different states of India. Statistical analysis revealed that one-third of the respondents suffered from some form of anxiety and depression during a lockdown. Less than 10% of them had severe levels of symptoms. The majority were males aged 18-45 years and private sector employees. Delivering essential services was involved with significant anxiety and depression. Availability of food and daily essentials was the most common problem. Difficulty in availing medicines and financial crisis were significant predictors of anxiety and depression. Worsening of interpersonal relationships was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The study concluded that experiences during the lockdown and associated psychological outcomes are important factors to consider and appropriate preventive measures to be taken in case of any future lockdowns.

Perceived COVID-19 pandemic impact and protective factors predicting patient-reported depression and anxiety in individuals living with cancer

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique, amplified threat to those living with a cancer diagnosis, but personal factors may play a role in how this affects well-being. This cross-sectional study (1) describes the impacts of COVID-19 on cancer patients’ lives, and (2) explores the extent to which specific impacts of COVID-19 and noted protective factors, hope and resilience, predict two crucial patient-reported outcomes, depression and anxiety, after controlling for relevant sociodemographic and clinical factors.Methods520 cancer patients and survivors in the U.S. completed an online survey during the first year of the pandemic and answered questions about COVID-19 areas of impact, psychological well-being, hope, and resilience. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to analyze the unique impact of each group of variables on patient-reported levels of depression and anxiety during the pandemic.ResultsParticipants strongly endorsed COVID-19 impact across several areas of life, especially social activity, well-being, and ability to acquire basic essentials. Regression models explained a substantial amount of variance in patient-reported depression (R2 = .50, p < .001) and anxiety (R2 = .44, p < .001), revealing COVID-19 financial impact as a significant predictor of depression (β = 0.07), and COVID-19 family impact as a significant predictor of anxiety (β = 0.14), even after controlling for the effects of relevant sociodemographic and clinical variables. Additionally, resilience and hope were the largest predictors of both depression (β = − 0.19 and − 0.37, respectively) and anxiety (β = − 0.18 and − 0.29), suggesting that they account for unique variance in patient-reported mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and might serve as important protective factors.ConclusionsThe current results add to existing literature documenting the significant effect of COVID-19 on those living with cancer. COVID-19 impact, including financial and family well-being, as well as positive psychological constructs, hope and resilience, play a crucial role in levels of patient-reported depression and anxiety during the pandemic. As COVID-19 continues to evolve, health care providers should routinely assess psychological well-being and needs related to COVID-19 financial and family impact in an effort to appropriately align individuals with resources and support, and consider how hope and resilience can be fostered to serve as psychological buffers during this time.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's perinatal mental health and its association with personality traits: An observational study.

The burden of perinatal mental health problems was expected to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. We prospectively investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women in Norway and explored associations with their sociodemographic characteristics and personality traits. Sociodemographic information and the self-reported impact of pandemic on wellbeing of pregnant women was collected using an online survey. To assess women's mental health, two validated questionnaires, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item Scale (GAD-7), were used prenatally and postnatally. Personality traits were evaluated using HumanGuide, a web-based ipsative psychological evaluation instrument. 772 women were included prenatally, of which 526 also responded to the survey 4-6 weeks postnatally. The median age was 29 years, 53.6% of the women were nulliparous when enrolled, and 35.1% worked in the healthcare sector. The median EPDS (6.0; interquartile range [IQR] 3.0-10.0 vs 6.0; IQR: 3.0-10.0) and the median GAD-7 (5.0; IQR 2.0-9.0 vs 5.0; IQR 2.0-9.0) were similar pre-and postnatally. Prenatally, the proportion of women scoring ≥13 on EPDS and ≥10 on GAD-7 was 14.5% (112/772) and 21.5% (166/772), whereas the postnatal figures were 15.6% (82/526) and 21.5% (113/526), respectively. The differences were not significant (P=0.59 and P=0.99). Being <25 years of age, being on pre-pregnancy psychotherapy or psychotropic medication, frequent voluntary isolation, perception of maternity care not proceeding normally, avoiding seeking medical assistance due to fear of infection and having negative economic consequences during the COVID19 pandemic significantly increased the risk of both anxiety (GAD-7 ≥10) and depression (EPDS ≥13). Nullipara had a higher risk of anxiety, whereas being a healthcare worker had a lower risk. The personality trait factors Power (P=0.008), Quality (P=0.008), Stability (P < 0.001) and Contacts (P < 0.001) were significant predictors of depression among pregnant women, whereas the Quality (P=0.005) and Contacts (P=0.003) were significant predictors of anxiety. During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of depression (EPDS ≥ 13) and anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) was 14.5% and 21.5%, respectively, among Norwegian pregnant women. Certain sociodemographic characteristics and personality traits were significant predictors of depression and anxiety.

Prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among community-dwelling older adults in Hunan, China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundOlder adults’ psychological health is a public health issue that cannot be ignored, especially when these psychological health problems and related factors change across different social backgrounds because of rapid changes in traditions and family structures and the epidemic responses after the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2021 with 1173 participants aged 65 years or above from three communities in Hunan Province, China who were selected using convenience sampling. A structured questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), the 7-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) was used to collect relevant demographic and clinical data and to measure social support status, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms, respectively. Bivariate analyses were conducted to explore the difference in anxiety and depression based on samples’ different characteristics. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to test for significant predictors of anxiety and depression.ResultsThe prevalence of anxiety and depression were 32.74% and 37.34%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that being female, being unemployed before retirement age, lacking physical activity, having physical pain, and having three or more comorbidities were significant predictors for anxiety. Subjective social support and support utilization were significant protective factors. Regarding depression, religion, lacking physical activity, having physical pain, having three or more comorbidities were found to be significant predictors. Support utilization was a significant protective factor.ConclusionsThe study group showed a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. Gender, employment status, physical activity, physical pain, comorbidities, and social support were associated with psychological health problems of older adults. These findings suggest that governments should focus on the psychological health problems of older adults by raising community awareness of issues related to older adults’ psychological health. They should also screen for anxiety and depression among high-risk groups and encourage individuals to seek supportive counseling.

Can self-compassion help us better understand the impact of pulmonary hypertension on those with the condition and their carers? A cross-sectional analysis.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can have a multifaced impact both on the affected individual and close family members. However there are relatively few studies that have sought to identify potential protective factors. Individual differences in ability to be self-compassionate are known to be implicated in adjustment in other long-term conditions and are now featuring in the provision of care for a number of conditions. This is a cross-sectional study that investigated the relationship between self-compassion, demographic, PH-related information, and measures of psychosocial functioning in adults with PH (n = 65) and caregivers (n = 29). Individuals with PH and caregivers of someone with PH completed self-report measures on demographic and clinical factors, anxiety, depression, self-compassion, and in those with PH, health-related quality of life, and in carers, caregiver burden. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression analyses. Surprisingly, participants with PH and caregivers did not significantly differ on rates of depression (p = 0.19) or anxiety (p = 0.57) with both scoring relatively high. Components of self-compassion were associated with psychological functioning in both individuals and caregivers. Greater self-compassion was associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and greater health-related quality of life in individuals with PH and lower burden in caregivers. More specifically, multiple regression analyses revealed after controlling for age, gender, and duration of PH, self-compassion was a significant predictor of anxiety and depression in people with PH, and of anxiety and caregiver burden in carers. These findings add to the evidence base indicating that there can be a range of burdens experienced by both people living with PH and their wider families. Further, this study uniquely suggests that psychological and supportive interventions that seek to build self-compassion may be useful to develop and test in this clinical group.

The effect of psychological counseling carried out according to the cognitive behavioral approach on depression and anxiety: A meta-analysis

The effect size of psychological counseling based on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach on depression and anxiety, was conducted using a meta-analysis method. According to the defined criteria, eight primary studies on anxiety and 21 on depression are included in the meta-analysis. The effect sizes based on a random-effects model are also determined. The mean effect size was -0.936 (95% CI [-1.215, -0.657]) for anxiety and -0.844 (95% CI [-1.065, - 0.624]) for depression. Accordingly, CBT can have a large effect on reducing the level of depression and anxiety in participants. As a result of the moderator analysis, the effect sizes relating to depression did not significantly differ according to the type of test and experimental design. The number of sessions was a non-significant predictor of depression, but the experimental group size was a significant predictor of CBT's effect size on depression. As for the moderator analysis in the anxiety variable, the effect sizes relating to anxiety did not significantly differ by age group, types of publication, counseling, experimental design, test, and anxiety. Also, the number of sessions and experimental group size were not significant predictors of anxiety. According to these results, CBT is effective in reducing the depression and anxiety levels of individuals.

NEIGHBORHOOD PREDICTORS OF MENTAL HEALTH OF OLDER AMERICANS: EVIDENCE FROM A 5-YEAR LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Abstract With increasing dependence on other people in old age, environmental resources become an important asset for older adults to experience healthy aging. Data on the longitudinal relationship between neighborhood and mental health in late life is scanty. This study utilized hierarchical multiple regression model analysis to investigate whether and which neighborhood factors predicted depression and anxiety among older Americans followed up for over five years within the same neighborhood. Two waves of data containing a cohort of 1,731 older adults from the NSHAP project were used. Outcome measures were depression and anxiety. Predictors were four neighborhood factors: Social cohesion (NSC), social ties (NSC), neighborhood problems (NP), and perceived neighborhood danger (PND). We adjusted for demographic and physical health characteristics. The mean age of the respondents was 71.4 ± 6.5 years and were mostly females (55.5%). Lower NSC and a higher PND significantly predicted depression. However, the model only explained 2.8% of the variance in depression. In the covariate-adjusted model, none of the neighborhood factors predicted depression, but the model significantly improved to 32.5%. NP was the only significant predictor of anxiety in the final model and explained 27.8% of the variance in anxiety. Covariates, which are primary determinants of mental health disparity, have a much larger role to play. This study sheds some light on the complexity of the relationship between neighborhood and mental health in older adults. Future policy development and interventions should target improving both physical and social environments to enhancing the mental wellbeing of older adults.

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Undergraduate Students

Previous studies conducted in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic have found that undergraduate students experienced considerable levels of anxiety, depression, stress, difficulties transitioning to online learning, worries about academic performance, and difficulties concentrating (Fruehwirth et al., 2021; Hathaway et al., 2021; Lee et al., 2021; Son et al., 2020; X. Wang et al., 2020). However, these studies were primarily conducted during the first wave of the pandemic. To assess ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate students, students at a state university in the southeastern United States were surveyed to examine associations between mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression, and stress) and class modality (classes online versus at least one in-person class), along with various demographic and academic variables (perceived distractibility and perceived decrease in quality of coursework). The results showed that class modality was not a significant predictor of anxiety, depression, and stress. Perceived distractibility and perceived decrease in quality of coursework were significant predictors of all three outcomes and female gender was a positive predictor of anxiety and stress. Students within this study reported clinically significant levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, indicating the need for further research on the availability of mental health services for students.

Prognostic Assessment of Stress-Related Factors in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an extraordinary challenge for all countries and affects the psychological wellbeing of healthcare professionals working with people suffering from COVID-19 and puts them at a high risk of mental health problems. The aim of the study was to identify stress-related factors that affect the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine. A total of 1098 Ukrainian healthcare workers were surveyed using an online questionnaire consisting of questions relating to a) socio-demographic characteristics; b) perceptions of the COVID-19 related situation; and c) stress and protective factors. Respondents were divided into two groups, depending on whether they provided care to the patients with COVID-19 or not. Of the 1087 healthcare workers, 863 (79.4%) were found to have anxiety / fear caused by the COVID-19. No significant difference was detected between professionals who did and did not provide personal assistance to patients with COVID-19 concerning anxiety / fear related to COVID-19 (p=0.0776). Based on logistic regression model (χ2(6)=263.70, p=0.000) the most significant predictive factors for anxiety / fear caused by the COVID-19 were factors related to safety and risk perception (the risk of getting infected, dying, infecting loved ones, perception of the threat of the epidemic spread), information factors (constant news about COVID-19), as well as factors related to the organisation of care (lack of staff in health care facilities). Negative risk perception, high consumption of COVID-19 news, and shortage of staff in health care facilities were significant predictors of anxiety / fear caused by the COVID-19.

Leisure constraint and mental health: The case of park users in Ningbo, China

Parks with green spaces afford many opportunities for and encourage a variety of outdoor leisure activities, which improves park users' physical and mental health in Western countries. However, little is known about whether and how leisure constraint factors relate to the mental health of park users in non-Western countries. This study explored the relationship between leisure constraint factors, demographic variables, and park users’ mental health using multivariate multiple regression analysis. Data were collected from June 22 to July 19, 2021, from 506 respondents in seven major parks in Ningbo, China. Analysis yielded five leisure constraint factors (facilities and environment, accessibility, stress, intrapersonal, time) and three mental health factors (social dysfunction, general dysphoria, anxiety) among park users, and further found accessibility and stress among constraint factors to be significant predictors of social dysfunction among mental health factors; in addition, stress and facilities and environment were significant predictors of general dysphoria, and stress was a significant predictor of anxiety, while intrapersonal and time predicted none. Of the demographic variables, group composition, visit frequency, education, and income were significant predictors of social dysfunction; sex and marital status were significant predictors of general dysphoria; and group composition and visit frequency were significant anxiety predictors. The findings have implications for urban managers and policymakers in urban parks and recreation in a Chinese urban park context. Firstly, we found the accessibility constraint factor and visit frequency were positively related to park users' mental health. Hence, managers may consider building more parks and green spaces, providing more urban park information, and holding more activities to reduce accessibility constraints and encourage more frequent urban park uses. Second, the facilities and environment constraint factors, such as old leisure facilities and old-fashioned leisure activities, were associated with lower mental health perceptions. Managers may consider designing more modern, livable, and user-friendly facilities and offer programs and leisure activities to attract more park users. Third, managers may consider holding social gatherings in parks to improve the mental health of solo visitors. Finally, the stress constraint factor was the most significant factor hindering park users' mental health. Therefore, to enhance people's mental health, urban governance should include planning and managing urban environments and make every effort to offer free and accessible urban parks where park users may relieve their daily life pressure and stress.

Magnitude and factors associated with anxiety and depression among patients with breast cancer in central Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundPatients with breast cancer are assumed to be susceptible to anxiety and depression, while there is a lack of evidence about the epidemiology and underlying factors in Ethiopia. Hence, we aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression among patients with breast cancer in Ethiopia.MethodAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with breast cancer who were attending treatment at the Oncology Center of the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, the largest referral teaching hospital in Ethiopia. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HDAS) was used to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of the participants, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and clinical data from the participants. Medical records of the participants were reviewed to collect and correlate information about the grade and stage of cancer. An analysis was done using STATA 15.1.ResultsThe study included 333 randomly selected participants, of which 35.4% were on stage III and 33% on stage II, and 67.9% were on chemotherapy and surgery. The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 60.7 and 58.6%, respectively. Poor patient-provider interaction (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.49, 8.12) and having no financial support (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.63, 4.91) were the significant predictors of anxiety. Age >49 years (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.90), poor patient-provider interactions (AOR = 3.36, 95% CI: 1.87, 6.02), and having no financial support (AOR = 3.36, 95% CI: 1.95, 5.79) were the significant predictors of depression.ConclusionIn this study, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was high among patients with breast cancer, and the lack of financial support and poor patient-provider interactions were significant predictors of anxiety and depression among these groups of patients. Patients with cancer need regular screening for mental health and better emotional support from their healthcare providers and families to prevent and treat anxiety and depression.

A study to assess anxiety, stress and depression among private medical practitioners during COVID-19 pandemic: An observational study

Objectives: This study aims to assess the magnitude of anxiety, stress, and depression among private practitioners during the COVID pandemic 2020. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study was done using a semi-structured questionnaire through electronic media in the form of Google Forms. Patient health questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 were incorporated into the questionnaire to assess the psychological status in November 2020. Results: A total of 157 private practitioners participated in the study. Males constituted 60%. Participants have mean age (SD) of 44.2 (6.9) years with work experience and a mean (SD) of 16.3 (6.78) years. The anxiety and depression subscales of the PHQ-4 scale showed that 54.7% of the private practitioners have anxiety subscale ≥3 and 28% have depression subscale &gt;3 needing further psychiatric evaluation. Significant predictors of anxiety and depression were female gender, younger and less experienced, and those providing inpatient services in COVID care isolation facilities. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of anxiety, stress, and depression among private practitioners comparable with other countries.

Association between thyroid function and comorbid anxiety in first-episode and drug naïve patients with major depressive disorder.

Existing studies have shown that thyroid dysfunction is associated with depression. However, its role in major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid anxiety remains unclear. The main purpose of this study was to compare thyroid function in a large sample of first episode drug naïve (FEDN) MDD patients with and without anxiety. This cross-sectional study examined 1718 outpatients who were drug-naïve and diagnosed as MDD at first episode. Socio-demographic and clinical data, as well as thyroid function-related parameters, including free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin (TGAb), were evaluated. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and the positive subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to evaluate depressive, anxiety and psychotic symptoms, respectively. Compared to MDD patients without anxiety, MDD patients with anxiety were more likely to have more suicide attempts and psychotic symptoms, as well as higher serum levels of TSH, TPOAb and TGAb (all p < 0.001). Among patients with abnormally elevated serum TSH, TPOAb, and TGAb, 83.5% (872/1044), 89.3% (391/438) and 89.6% (266/297) had comorbid anxiety disorders, respectively. The odds ratio between patients with comorbid and without comorbid anxiety was 1.657 (95% CI 1.304-2.105) for elevated TSH levels, 1.943 (95% CI 1.444-2.613) for elevated TGAb levels, and 2.448 (95% CI 1.760-3.403) for elevated TPOAb levels. Furthermore, multivariable linear analysis showed that elevated TSH and TGAb were significant predictors of anxiety in MDD patients. Our results suggest that comorbid anxiety in FEDN MDD patients is positively associated with elevated TSH and TGAb levels, which may be promising biomarkers of comorbid anxiety in MDD patients. Clinical treatment of impaired thyroid function may be useful for comorbid anxiety in MDD patients.

Assessment of Depression and Anxiety Among Admitted People With Heart Disease Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Hospital-Based Study in a Bangladeshi Population During the COVID-19.

ObjectiveDepression and anxiety are widespread and chronic among patients with heart disease. We wanted to determine the proportion of heart patients with depression and anxiety levels as well as factors contributing toward depression and anxiety among hospitalized heart disease patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the COVID-19 era.MethodsThe study comprised a total of 384 participants with a confirmed heart disease diagnosis. We conducted a cross-sectional study from 5th March to 27th June 2021. The hospital-based study admitted patients sequentially with a new or pre-existing heart disease diagnosis to one of Dhaka's two leading hospitals. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale screened all individuals for depression and anxiety.ResultMost of the respondents (88.2%) were male and within the age categories of 51–60 years (32.81%). 96.6% of the patients were married, 30% had no income, 36.6% had only completed classes 1–5, and ~47% resided in rural areas. Approximately 36% of the study participants were former smokers, with 31% current smokers. Borderline abnormal and abnormal levels of anxiety and borderline abnormal and abnormal levels of depression were found in (23.9%, 49.4%) and (55.7%, 13.3%), respectively, of hospitalized patients. Age, residence, profession, monthly income, and chronic disease were significant predictors of anxiety, while only gender remained significantly associated with depression.ConclusionHospitalized Bangladeshi patients with heart disease had moderate levels of depression and anxiety. There is a need to develop a quick screening approach in hospitals dealing with hospitalized patients with heart disease to identify those needing extra evaluation and care.

Psychological burden of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among Egyptian pregnant women

Background and aim Pregnant women are more prone to psychological distress, which can have a deleterious effect on the mother and the fetus. coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a new and dangerous event with limited data available that may adversely affect the mental health of pregnant women. So, the aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women, pregnant women’s perceptions toward COVID-19 epidemiology, and antenatal care service utilization during the pandemic. Patients and methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in the interval from February 2021 to September 2021 and included 340 Egyptian pregnant women with singleton pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. A structured self-administered online questionnaire was completed by the participants. The validated 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 was used. Results The study revealed a high prevalence of stress (61.5%), anxiety (73%), and depression (68.5%) among pregnant women. Chronic diseases, irregular antenatal care, and previous COVID-19 infection of family members were all significant predictors of anxiety and depression. In contrast, prior infection of the pregnant women with COVID-19 in the current pregnancy was a significant predictor for stress, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among Egyptian pregnant women during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychosocial support is required, in addition to raising pregnant women’s awareness regarding COVID-19 infection.

Factors affecting anxiety and depression during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study of three different populations

BackgroundThis paper was the first study comparing levels of anxiety and depression and assessing the affecting factors among the general population, frontline healthcare workers, and COVID-19 inpatients in Turkey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected data from the general population (n = 162), frontline healthcare workers (n = 131), and COVID-19 inpatients (n = 86) using Individual Characteristics Form, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory in this cross-sectional study.ResultsAn increased prevalence of depression and anxiety were found predominantly in frontline healthcare workers (p < 0.001). COVID-19 inpatients and frontline healthcare workers were more likely to demonstrate anxiety (p < 0.001) than the general population. In the regression analysis, while fear of infecting relatives was a significant predictor of anxiety and depression in the general population, gender and experiencing important life events were associated with anxiety. Fear of infecting relatives and lack of personal protective equipment while providing care were predictors of anxiety and depression in healthcare workers (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the fear of being re-hospitalised due to re-infection was a predictor of depression and anxiety levels of the COVID-19 inpatients.ConclusionPolicymakers and mental health providers are advised to continuously monitor psychological outcomes and provide necessary health support during this pandemic.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Diabetes Distress, Depression and Anxiety Among Primary Care Patients With Type 2 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is growing worldwide. T2DM is often complicated by a range of psychological disorders that interfere with glycemic control and self-care. Previous studies have reported diabetes distress, depression, and anxiety among patients with T2DM; however; little is known about the burden of these comorbid mental disorders in primary care patients with T2DM treated in Egypt during the COVID-19 era. Participants were selected by convenient sampling from eight rural primary healthcare facilities from Ismailia in Egypt. Symptoms of diabetes distress, depression and anxiety were assessed by using the Arabic version of the 20-item Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID), Patient Health Questionnaire 9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scales, respectively. Multiple hierarchical logistic regression models were used to estimate the significant factors associated with diabetes distress, depression, and anxiety. A total of 403 individuals with T2DM were interviewed. The prevalence of severe diabetes distress was 13.4% (95% CI: 10.1–16.7), while prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 9.2% (95% CI: 6.4–12.0%), and 4.0% (95% CI: 2.1–5.9), respectively. In a series of hierarchical logistic regression models, significant predictors for diabetes distress were being married, illiterate, not-working, living with insufficient income, and having multi-comorbidities. Likewise, the significant predictors for depression and anxiety were elevated glycated hemoglobin level and the higher PAID total score, while having multi-comorbidities was a significant predictor for anxiety only. Diabetes distress was more prevalent than depressive and anxiety symptoms in this study population. Several sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were identified to be related with psychological problems among patients with T2DM, which necessitate a multidisciplinary team-based approach for optimal screening and management.