Psychological Medicine, University of Worcester, UK.
School of Psychology, University of Worcester, UK.
J Affect Disord. 2024 Jan 15;345:186-191. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.135. Epub 2023 Oct 27.
Despite cross-sectional population and clinical studies finding individuals with existing mood disorders being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, longitudinal studies have not shown a worsening of psychiatric symptoms. In response to these findings, we explored opportunities to engage in positive activities during the pandemic from the perspectives of individuals with mood disorders.
A bespoke survey, containing closed and open questions, was sent to participants with mood disorders who were part of the UK Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN). Questions related to experiences of positive impacts of the pandemic, levels of engagement in positive activities and coping strategies.
Response rate was 46.4 % (N = 1688). 61.9 % reported positive life changes during the pandemic, with slower pace of life reported most frequently (52.8 %). 47.3 % reported no adverse impact of the pandemic on implementing their usual coping strategies. Activities that respondents most commonly reported the same or greater level of engagement in compared to before the pandemic were avoiding known mood triggers (82.3 %), relaxation techniques (78.8 %) and the ability to maintain set routines (69.4 %).
Responder bias may be present and experiences during the pandemic are likely to differ among other clinical and research mood disorders cohorts.
Our findings may help to explain why longitudinal studies have not found a worsening of mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying potential facilitators to maintaining mental health have wider applicability, and may help to inform future evidence-based psychoeducation and self-management programmes for mood disorders.
尽管横断面人群研究和临床研究发现，现患心境障碍的个体受到 COVID-19 大流行的不利影响，但纵向研究并未显示精神症状恶化。针对这些发现，我们从心境障碍患者的角度探讨了在大流行期间参与积极活动的机会。
向英国双相情感障碍研究网络（BDRN）的心境障碍患者发送了一份包含封闭式和开放式问题的定制调查。问题涉及大流行带来的积极影响体验、积极活动参与度和应对策略水平。
回复率为 46.4%（N=1688）。61.9%的人报告在大流行期间生活发生了积极变化，生活节奏放缓最为常见（52.8%）。47.3%的人报告大流行对他们实施惯用应对策略没有负面影响。与大流行前相比，受访者报告参与度相同或更高的活动是避免已知的情绪触发因素（82.3%）、放松技术（78.8%）和保持固定日常生活规律的能力（69.4%）。
可能存在应答者偏差，并且其他临床和研究心境障碍队列的大流行期间的经历可能不同。
我们的发现可能有助于解释为什么纵向研究没有发现 COVID-19 大流行期间心理健康症状恶化。确定维持心理健康的潜在促进因素具有更广泛的适用性，并可能有助于为心境障碍提供未来基于证据的心理教育和自我管理计划。
