Giel Katrin E, Martus Peter, Paul Gregor, Jürgensen Jan Steffen, Löwe Bernd, Serna Higuita Lina Maria, Dörsam Annica F, Stuber Felicitas, Ehehalt Stefan, Zipfel Stephan, Junne Florian
Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Institute for Medical Biometrics and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Front Psychiatry. 2022 Oct 24;13:1000722. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1000722. eCollection 2022.
The stress response to the COVID-19 pandemic might differ between early and later stages. Longitudinal data on the development of population mental health during COVID-19 pandemic is scarce. We have investigated mental health trajectories and predictors for change in a probability sample of the general population in Germany at the beginning and after 6 months of the pandemic. We conducted a longitudinal survey in a population-based probability sample of German adults. The current study analyzed data from a first assessment in May 2020 (T1; = 1,412) and a second in November 2020 (T2; = 743). Mental health was assessed in terms of anxiety and depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). Mental health outcomes at T1 were compared with PHQ-4 norm data. Trajectories over time were investigated based on outcome classifications of PHQ-4 scores. Predictors of mental health outcomes and change were identified using multiple regression analysis. In spring 2020, participants showed significantly higher PHQ-4 scores as compared to the norm data, however, overall anxiety and depression remained low also 6 months later. 6.6% of respondents showed a mental health deterioration in autumn 2020, entering subclinical and clinical ranges, outweighing the proportion of people with improved outcomes. Sociodemographic variables associated with mental distress at T1 were mainly not predictive for change at T2. Even under prolonged pandemic-related stress, mental health remained mainly stable in the general population. Further development of the considerable subgroup experiencing deterioration of depression and anxiety should be monitored, in order to tailor prevention and intervention efforts.
对新冠疫情的应激反应在早期和后期可能有所不同。关于新冠疫情期间人群心理健康发展的纵向数据稀缺。我们调查了德国普通人群概率样本在疫情开始时及6个月后的心理健康轨迹及其变化的预测因素。我们对德国成年人的基于人群的概率样本进行了纵向调查。本研究分析了2020年5月首次评估（T1；n = 1412）和2020年11月第二次评估（T2；n = 743）的数据。使用患者健康问卷 - 4（PHQ - 4）从焦虑和抑郁方面评估心理健康。将T1时的心理健康结果与PHQ - 4常模数据进行比较。基于PHQ - 4得分的结果分类研究随时间的轨迹。使用多元回归分析确定心理健康结果及其变化的预测因素。2020年春季，与常模数据相比，参与者的PHQ - 4得分显著更高，然而，6个月后总体焦虑和抑郁水平仍较低。6.6%的受访者在2020年秋季心理健康状况恶化，进入亚临床和临床范围，超过了心理健康状况改善者的比例。与T1时心理困扰相关的社会人口统计学变量主要不能预测T2时的变化。即使在与疫情相关的长期压力下，普通人群的心理健康仍主要保持稳定。应监测相当一部分抑郁和焦虑状况恶化的亚组人群的进一步发展情况，以便调整预防和干预措施。
