Schenk Mona, Baldofski Sabrina, Hall Fabian, Urbansky Tony, Strauß Maria, Kohls Elisabeth, Rummel-Kluge Christine
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Semmelweisstr. 10, Haus 13, Leipzig, 04103, Germany.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2025 Apr;60(4):953-965. doi: 10.1007/s00127-024-02808-w. Epub 2024 Dec 23.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in loneliness as well as mental health issues was detected. However, research on the association between loneliness and mental disorders is sparse. The aim of this study was to examine loneliness and associated social and emotional factors in patients with a psychiatric disorder and to investigate potential predictors of loneliness.
Participants were N = 230 patients currently receiving psychiatric treatment at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Germany. A cross-sectional survey included questionnaires on loneliness, life satisfaction, need to belong, interpersonal trust, stress, and resilience.
Most participants (n = 91, 39.6%) suffered from depression, followed by anxiety disorder (n = 43, 18.7%). Significantly higher loneliness levels compared to norm samples were detected in all three loneliness questionnaires (all p <.05), and overall n = 128 (57.7%) reported to feel lonely. In addition, participants reported lower life satisfaction, lower interpersonal trust, and lower resilience than the general population (all p <.05). No significant differences in loneliness levels between different psychiatric diagnoses were revealed. It was found that lower satisfaction with life, lower interpersonal trust and lower resilience were significantly associated with higher loneliness (all p <.05).
This study underlines the importance to continue research on loneliness in people with mental disorders after the COVID-19 pandemic since the majority of patients reported to feel lonely. Further, tailored therapy-accompanying interventions to prevent loneliness in patients with a psychiatric disorder should be designed and evaluated to meet patients' diverse needs e.g., through online programs.
German Clinical Trial Registration: DRKS00023741 (registered on April 6, 2021).
在新冠疫情期间，人们发现孤独感以及心理健康问题有所增加。然而，关于孤独感与精神障碍之间关联的研究却很稀少。本研究的目的是调查精神障碍患者的孤独感以及相关的社会和情感因素，并探究孤独感的潜在预测因素。
研究对象为德国莱比锡大学医院精神科和心理治疗科目前正在接受精神治疗的N = 230名患者。一项横断面调查包括了关于孤独感、生活满意度、归属感需求、人际信任、压力和心理韧性的问卷。
大多数参与者（n = 91，39.6%）患有抑郁症，其次是焦虑症（n = 43，18.7%）。在所有三份孤独感问卷中，与正常样本相比，孤独感水平均显著更高（所有p < 0.05），总体上有n = 128（57.7%）的参与者表示感到孤独。此外，参与者报告的生活满意度、人际信任和心理韧性均低于普通人群（所有p < 0.05）。不同精神诊断之间的孤独感水平未发现显著差异。研究发现，较低的生活满意度、较低的人际信任和较低的心理韧性与较高的孤独感显著相关（所有p < 0.05）。
本研究强调了在新冠疫情后继续研究精神障碍患者孤独感的重要性，因为大多数患者表示感到孤独。此外，应设计并评估有针对性的辅助治疗干预措施，以预防精神障碍患者的孤独感，例如通过在线项目来满足患者的多样化需求。
德国临床试验注册：DRKS00023741（于2021年4月6日注册）
