Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with pre-existing anxiety disorders attending secondary care

Abstract

Objectives To examine the psychological and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with established anxiety disorders during a period of stringent mandated social restrictions. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 individuals attending the Galway-Roscommon Mental Health Services with an International Classification of Diseases diagnosis of an anxiety disorder to determine the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on anxiety and mood symptoms, social and occupational functioning and quality of life. Results Twelve (40.0%) participants described COVID-19 restrictions as having a deleterious impact on their anxiety symptoms. Likert scale measurements noted that the greatest impact of COVID-19 related to social functioning (mean = 4.5, SD = 2.9), with a modest deleterious effect on anxiety symptoms noted (mean = 3.8, SD = 2.9). Clinician rated data noted that 8 (26.7%) participants had disimproved and 14 (46.7%) participants had improved since their previous clinical review, prior to commencement of COVID-19 restrictions. Conditions associated with no ‘trigger’, such as generalised anxiety disorder, demonstrated a non-significant increase in anxiety symptoms compared to conditions with a ‘trigger’, such as obsessive compulsive disorder. Psychiatric or physical comorbidity did not substantially impact on symptomatology secondary to COVID-19 mandated restrictions. Conclusions The psychological and social impact of COVID-19 restrictions on individuals with pre-existing anxiety disorders has been modest with only minimal increases in symptomatology or social impairment noted.

Effects of the lockdown on the mental health of the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: Results from the COMET collaborative network

“…Moreover, being affected by a pre-existing mental health problem represents an independent significant risk factor for the development of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms, as already reported by Plunkett et al [90] and Hao et al [14]. This finding suggests the need to provide as soon as possible adequate and tailored supportive interventions to mentally ill patients, who represent fragile and at-risk individuals that have been overlooked during the initial phases of the pandemic [91][92][93][94][95].…”

Presentation and management of anxiety in individuals with acute symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, and in the post-COVID-19 recovery phase

“…Other biological factors are pre-existing health conditions such as mental illness or another general medical condition such as diabetes, uncertainty due to a novel infectious disease with high morbidity for which there are not effective treatments, and reduction in physical activity. The presence of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety (Plunkett et al 2020), depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders (Termorshuizen et al 2020), or schizophrenia , may predispose to greater anxiety associated with COVID-19.…”

What Is the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Pre-Existing Mood or Anxiety Disorder? An Observational Prospective Study

“…Three other clinical studies found opposite results. The impact of pandemic stress triggered only a minimal increase in symptomatology or social impairment in a sample of 54 patients with anxiety disorders [ 19 ], no changes in mood or sleep duration in 56 patients with affective disorders [ 20 ] and no increase in depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in 73 old patients with major depressive disorder [ 21 ].…”