Psychosocial Health and Physical Activity in People With Major Depression in the Context of COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: Major depression is a psychiatric disease associated with physical inactivity, which in turn affects mental and physical health. A randomized controlled trial is being implemented to facilitate physical activity in people with major depression. In March 2020, Swiss state authorities temporarily legislated a lockdown to contain the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), which influenced health, behavior and research. The aim of this study was to find out whether data gathered before and during/after the lockdown among in-patients with major depression differ with regard to psychosocial health, physical activity and related attitudes and to establish whether baseline data have been affected by the lockdown.Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis within a randomized controlled trial. Physically inactive, adult in-patients diagnosed with major depression were recruited from four Swiss psychiatric clinics between January 2019 and December 2020. Psychosocial health was measured with questionnaires pertaining to stress, sleep and health-related quality of life. Physical activity was measured with the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire. Explicit attitudes were measured with seven questionnaires pertaining to physical activity-related motivation and volition. Implicit attitudes toward physical activity were captured with a single target implicit association test.Results: The sample consisted of 165 participants (n = 119 before lockdown, n = 46 during/after lockdown). No statistically significant differences were found between in-patients with major depression assessed before and during/after the COVID-19 lockdown with regard to psychosocial health (stress, p = 0.51; sleep, p = 0.70; physical component of health-related quality of life, p = 0.55; mental component of health-related quality of life, p = 0.64), self-reported physical activity (p = 0.16) and explicit as well as implicit attitudes toward physical activity (p = 0.94). Hence, the COVID-19-induced lockdown seems not to have led to group differences.Conclusion: Baseline data gathered in in-patients suffering from major depression who are physically inactive upon admission to in-patient treatment in Switzerland seem to be unaffected by the COVID-19-induced lockdown. To assess changes in said population regarding psychosocial health and physical activity patterns over time, longitudinal data are needed.

Long-term outcomes of physical activity counseling in in-patients with major depressive disorder: Results from the PACINPAT randomized controlled trial

“…Finally, it could be that the Covid-19 pandemic may have affected the intervention. However, we were able to show that participants included before vs. after the outbreak of the pandemic did neither differ with regard to psychopathology nor physical activity behavior (Cody et al, 2021).…”

Long-term outcomes of physical activity counseling in in-patients with major depressive disorder: results from the PACINPAT randomized controlled trial

“…Finally, it could be that the Covid-19 pandemic may have affected the intervention. However, we were able to show that participants included before vs. after the outbreak of the pandemic did neither differ with regard to psychopathology nor physical activity behavior [ 84 ].…”

Asthma control associated with anxiety and depression in asthmatic children following post‐acute COVID‐19

“…However, it also led to psychological problems such as stress, insomnia, denial, anger, and fear. 1,[4][5][6][7][8] Recent studies have indicated that adults diagnosed with COVID-19 may contribute to increased levels of depression and anxiety. [9][10][11][12] During the COVID-19 period, children in quarantine have experienced negative effects on their mental health.…”

“…Minimizing social interaction among parents, classmates, and friends was effective in controlling the pandemic. However, it also led to psychological problems such as stress, insomnia, denial, anger, and fear 1,4–8 . Recent studies have indicated that adults diagnosed with COVID‐19 may contribute to increased levels of depression and anxiety 9–12 .…”