Depression, Suicidal Ideation, and Consumption of Psychotropic Drugs During Lockdown by COVID-19 According to Gender and Age

Abstract

The objective was to analyze the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation and psychotropic drugs use during COVID-19 lockdown in adult population considering gender and age. The method used is a descriptive and non-probabilistic study, with a convenience sampling of 3780 participants (70.1% female), aged 18–64 years (M = 37.8). 18.3% participants presented depression and 5.1% exhibited suicidal ideation. The depression rate for female was double (21.4%) than male and 5 times higher (30.2%) for the youngest participants (18–24 years old) compared to oldest (55–64 years old), being this rate triple in suicidal ideation (9%). Depression correlated positively with tranquilizers and sleeping pills’ consumption; and suicidal ideation did so with tranquilizers and sedatives. The rate of tranquilizer users was 8 times higher for severe depression compared to those who did not present depression, 5 times higher for sleeping pills, and 6 times higher for sedatives. The rate of tranquilizer users exhibiting suicidal ideation was more than triple than those who did not present suicidal ideation, between 3 and 4 times higher for sleeping pills, and almost 7 times higher for sedatives. The higher the level of depression and suicidal ideation during lockdown, the greater the consumption of psychotropic drugs. The consumption of psychotropic drugs should be monitored in people with depression and suicidal ideation during periods of crisis.

Association between Depressive Symptoms and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Nursing Students

“…Furthermore, in our study, the students who reported the daily use of psychotropic drugs, compared to those who did not consume such drugs, yielded significantly higher mean scores on the Goldberg total scale and the depression subscale. These data coincide with those of other studies, where a higher level of depression was found to result in increased consumption of psychotropic drugs [ 60 ] and should be considered for the adoption of other measures, such as nutritional interventions complementary to pharmacological treatment.…”

Prolonged increase in psychotropic drug use among young women following the COVID-19 pandemic: a French nationwide retrospective study

“…In France, similar studies have been conducted using national databases [ 9 , 20 , 21 ], regional [ 13 ] or national military samples [ 22 ]. As in other countries, these studies revealed an increase in psychotropic drug consumption during the pandemic period, particularly notable among young people [ 9 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 23 ] and women [ 13 , 19 , 23 ]. Some of these studies have shown an increase in the consumption of psychotropic drugs among young people in the first few months after the beginning of the pandemic [ 9 , 13 , 19 , 23 ] in relation to schools closures, reduced outdoor activities, and extensive social media use [ 24 – 26 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…As in other countries, these studies revealed an increase in psychotropic drug consumption during the pandemic period, particularly notable among young people [ 9 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 23 ] and women [ 13 , 19 , 23 ]. Some of these studies have shown an increase in the consumption of psychotropic drugs among young people in the first few months after the beginning of the pandemic [ 9 , 13 , 19 , 23 ] in relation to schools closures, reduced outdoor activities, and extensive social media use [ 24 – 26 , 26 , 27 ]. In line with a recent study of children and adolescents, the present study confirms that the negative effects on young people did not disappear after the pandemic [ 28 ].…”

“…An interesting approach to studying the effects of the pandemic on mental health is to monitor changes in psychotropic drug consumption [ 13 ]. Several studies examined the prescription of psychotropic drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic and observed an increase in the consumption of anxiolytics, hypnotics, and antidepressants in 2020 compared to 2019 [ 14 – 19 ]. In France, similar studies have been conducted using national databases [ 9 , 20 , 21 ], regional [ 13 ] or national military samples [ 22 ].…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption patterns of psychotropic drugs and predictors of limited access to medication

“…In agreement with the distribution of the sample, a report published during the pandemic showed that females had two times higher rate of depression and younger population had higher odds of mental disorders. 28 Since controls were age-matched to cases, this result could reflect the age group with most patients using psychotropics during the pandemic. Reports revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, young adults had a higher risk of developing psychological problems, 29 possibly related to the fear of getting infected or infecting others, 30 job losses, 31 stress, and frailty.…”