Poor Mental Health during the COVD-19 Pandemic: Effect Modification by Age

Bulloch, Andrew G. M.; Zulyniak, Sara; Williams, Jeanne V.A.; Bajgai, Janak; Bhattarai, Asmita; Dores, Ashley K.; Lukmanji, Aysha; Pham, Tiffany; Wiens, Kathryn; Patten, Scott B.

doi:10.1177/0706743721994408

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In a case series of pediatric individuals, there was significant weight loss in all three patients included in the study (Ünver et al, 2020 ). This may reflect a general trend in which the effects of the pandemic on mental health appear to have been more severe in young people (Bulloch et al, 2021 ). This trend may have contributed to the higher pediatric admissions that we are seeing, as they had an average increase of 83% ( n = 9 studies), whereas for adults there was an average increase of 16% in admissions ( n = 2 studies).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on eating disorders: A systematic review

Devoe

Han

Anderson

et al. 2022

Intl J Eating Disorders

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187

147

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Objective A growing body of evidence suggests that individuals with eating disorders (EDs) have experienced deteriorating symptoms, increased isolation, and an increase in hospital admissions as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Despite this, no systematic reviews have been conducted examining the COVID‐19 and ED peer‐reviewed literature. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on individuals with EDs. Method Database searches of the peer‐reviewed literature were completed in the subsequent databases: CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO (from November 2019 to October 20, 2021). All research reporting on the relationship between the COVID‐19 pandemic on individuals with EDs were included. Results Fifty‐three studies met the inclusion criteria, including 36,485 individuals with EDs. The pooled hospital admissions across the studies demonstrated on average a 48% (pre = 591, post = 876, n = 10 studies) increase in admissions during the pandemic compared to previous pre‐pandemic timepoints. In this review, 36% of studies ( n = 19) documented increases in eating disorder symptoms during the pandemic, this increase in eating disorder symptoms were documented in AN, BED, BN, and OFSED patients. Studies also demonstrated increases in anxiety ( n = 9) and depression ( n = 8), however patterns of change appeared to be diagnostic and timing specific (e.g., lockdowns). Discussion We found a large increase in the number of hospitalizations and an increase in ED symptoms, anxiety, depression, and changes to BMI in ED patients during the pandemic. However, these changes appeared to be diagnostic and timing specific. Many qualitative studies described deterioration in ED symptomatology due to decreased access to care and treatment, changes to routine and loss of structure, negative influence of the media, and social isolation. Future studies are needed to focus on pediatric populations, new ED diagnoses, and severity of illness at presentation. Public Significance The scientific literature suggests that individuals with eating disorders have experienced deteriorating symptoms, increased isolation, and an increase in hospital admissions as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study synthesized 53 articles and explored the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on patients with eating disorders. We found increases in eating disorder symptoms during the pandemic; this increase in eating disorder symptoms was documented in patients with common eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, binge‐eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding and eating disorders. This review also demonstrated changes in body mass index (an index used to classify underweight, overweight, and obesity in adults) and increas...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on eating disorders: A systematic review

Devoe

Han

Anderson

et al. 2022

Intl J Eating Disorders

Self Cite

187

147

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A Canadian analysis determined an increased likelihood of anxiety and depression among the younger segments of the population 11 . Another Canadian study found increased levels of anxiety and poor self-perceived mental health among those who were 15 to 24 years of age, with decreasing levels of anxiety as age increased, until the age of 65 years at which point anxiety and poor self-perception of mental health increased again 12 . A study of an American population found decreasing levels of anxiety and depression among older adults 13 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

An intersectional approach to identifying factors associated with anxiety and depression following the COVID-19 pandemic

Seens

Fraser

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting mental health, with some populations bearing a greater burden. In this cross-sectional online study, we examined the personal and intersectional factors associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression following the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed pre- and post-pandemic levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales, respectively. The study included 1847 participants, with an age range of 18 to 79 years and representing 43 countries. Variables with significance (p < 0.05) in predicting post-pandemic GAD-2 and PHQ-9 scores were pre-pandemic scores on the same scales, an interaction between increasing age and non-man gender, and an interaction between non-man gender and having children. Health practitioners, psychiatrists, and policy makers need to be aware and respond to the mental health burden of the pandemic on women and other gendered individuals, especially those who care for children.

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“…Existing research has highlighted the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general health and well-being of Canadians (Bulloch et al, 2021 ). The pandemic and its associated lifestyle changes, such as stay-at-home orders, service restrictions, and resource limitations can be particularly challenging and distressing for at-risk populations such as Veterans (Findlay, Arim, & Kohen, 2020 ; Ramage-Morin & Polsky, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Well-being of Canadian Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional results from the COVID-19 Veteran well-being study

Richardson

Cyr

Forchuk

et al. 2022

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionally affected different population groups. Veterans are more likely to have pre-existing mental health conditions compared to the general Canadian population, experience compounded stressors resulting from disruptions to familial, social, and occupational domains, and were faced with changes in health-care delivery (e.g. telehealth). The objectives of this study are to assess (a) the mental health impact of COVID-19 and related life changes on the well-being of Veterans and (b) perceptions of and satisfaction with changes in health-care treatments and delivery during the pandemic. Methods A total of 1136 Canadian Veterans participated in an online survey. Participants completed questions pertaining to their mental health and well-being, lifestyle changes, and concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as experiences and satisfaction with health-care treatments during the pandemic. Results Results showed that 55.9% of respondents reported worse mental health functioning compared to before the pandemic. The frequency of probable posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, and suicidal ideation were 34.2%, 35.3%, 26.8%, 13.0%, and 22.0%, respectively. Between 38.6% and 53.1% of respondents attributed their symptoms as either directly related to or exacerbated by the pandemic. Approximately 18% of respondents reported using telehealth for mental health services during the pandemic, and among those, 72.8% indicated a choice to use telehealth even after the pandemic. Conclusions This study found that Veterans experienced worsening mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of telehealth services was widely endorsed by mental health treatment-seeking Veterans who transitioned to virtual care during the pandemic. Our findings have important clinical and programmeadministrator implications, emphasizing the need to reach out to support veterans, especially those with pre-existing mental health conditions and to enhance and maintain virtual care even post-pandemic.

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Poor Mental Health during the COVD-19 Pandemic: Effect Modification by Age

Cited by 16 publications

References 4 publications

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on eating disorders: A systematic review

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on eating disorders: A systematic review

An intersectional approach to identifying factors associated with anxiety and depression following the COVID-19 pandemic

Well-being of Canadian Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional results from the COVID-19 Veteran well-being study

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