FREQUENCY OF GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER IN HOSPITALIZED COVID-19 PATIENT

IU SHAH; WA AKHUNZADA; Q RIAZ; AH WAZIR

doi:10.54112/bcsrj.v2024i1.1234

Authors

IU SHAH Department of Psychiatry, MTI, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan
WA AKHUNZADA Department of Psychiatry, MTI, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan
Q RIAZ Institute of Mental health and Behavioral sciences, phase 5 Peshawar, Pakistan
AH WAZIR Institute of Mental health and Behavioral sciences, phase 5 Peshawar, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v2024i1.1234

Keywords:

COVID-19 , Anxiety , Depression , Mental Health , Hospitalization , Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health, with anxiety disorders being particularly prevalent among hospitalized patients. Identifying and addressing mental health issues like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is crucial for improving patient outcomes and providing holistic care. Objective: To determine the frequency of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among hospitalized COVID-19 patients at MTI-Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, and to explore its association with gender and socioeconomic status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry at MTI-Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, over six months, from October 16, 2021, to April 16, 2022. A total of 179 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, aged 25 years and above, were included. Patients presenting with symptoms of anxiety were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. Unstable patients, who had a history of other mental disorders or were receiving treatment for depression and anxiety were excluded. Data were analyzed using statistical methods to explore associations between GAD and demographic factors such as gender and socioeconomic status. Results: The study included 179 COVID-19 patients, with a mean age of 43.50 ± 10.18 years. Generalized anxiety disorder was identified in 62 patients, representing 34.6% of the total population. GAD prevalence was significantly higher among female patients (p < 0.001) and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study highlights a high prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, particularly among females and those of lower socioeconomic status. The findings underscore the need for routine mental health screening and targeted interventions to address anxiety in this vulnerable population.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Chan JF-W, Yuan S, Kok K-H, To KK-W, Chu H, Yang J, et al. A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-to-person transmission: a study of a family cluster. The lancet. 2020;395(10223):514-23.

Davidson PM, Padula WV, Daly J, Jackson D. Moral outrage in COVID19—Understandable but not a strategy. Wiley Online Library; 2020. p. 3600-2.

Global T, Alert O. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19). Geneva: world health organization. 2020.

Meo S, Alhowikan A, Al-Khlaiwi T, Meo I, Halepoto D, Iqbal M, et al. Novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV: prevalence, biological and clinical characteristics comparison with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences. 2020;24(4).

Mahase E. Covid-19: WHO declares pandemic because of “alarming levels” of spread, severity, and inaction. Bmj. 2020;368(10.1136).

Ebrahim SH, Ahmed QA, Gozzer E, Schlagenhauf P, Memish ZA. Covid-19 and community mitigation strategies in a pandemic. British Medical Journal Publishing Group; 2020.

Organization WH. 30th Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region, Virtual meeting 22-25 June 2021: meeting report. 2021.

Yasmin F, Dapke K, Khalid MR, Naz H, Naz F, Admani B, et al. Generalized anxiety disorder and depressive symptoms among Pakistani population during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a regression analysis. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2021;105(4):915.

Aghayan SS, Atashi A, Yarmohammadi M, Sadeghi I, Jafarisani M. Changes in mean platelet volume and hematologic indices in patients with panic disorder due to oxidative stress. 2020.

Huang Y, Zhao N. Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey. Psychiatry research. 2020;288:112954.

Kong X, Zheng K, Tang M, Kong F, Zhou J, Diao L, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with depression and anxiety of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. MedRxiv. 2020:2020.03. 24.20043075.

Lakshmi K, Chandra S, Jain K, Menon B. Prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder in COVID-19 patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital in South India: A cross-sectional study. Kerala Journal of Psychiatry. 2022;35(1):54-7.

Ngasa SN, Tchouda LAS, Abanda C, Ngasa NC, Sanji EW, Dingana TN, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression amongst hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Laquintinie Hospital Douala, Cameroon. Plos one. 2021;16(12):e0260819.

George C, Cheruvilakam S, Franco A, Neeraj D, Stephen ST, Shiburaj P. Prevalence and determinants of anxiety and depression among individuals admitted with covid-19 infection in a tertiary level hospital. Kerala Journal of Psychiatry. 2022;35(1):30-8.

Parker C, Shalev D, Hsu I, Shenoy A, Cheung S, Nash S, et al. Depression, anxiety, and acute stress disorder among patients hospitalized with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study. Journal of the Academy of Consultation-liaison Psychiatry. 2021;62(2):211-9.