Sleep disturbances, fear, and generalized anxiety during the COVID-19 shut down phase in Germany: relation to infection rates, deaths, and German stock index DAX

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic impacts the whole world. So far, nothing is known about the course of psychological disturbances, such as fear, anxiety, and sleep disturbances of this pandemic over time in Europe. Methods Aim of this web-based survey was to assess the mental health burden of the German public over a period of 50 days after the COVID-19 outbreak. 16,245 individuals responded regarding sleep disturbances, COVID-19-fear, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7). Data were put in relation to infection rates, number of deaths and the German stock index. Results The specific fear increased rapidly in concordance with infection numbers. However, no relation to the number of deaths was found, COVID-19-fear developed reversed to the stock index. Initially, 13.5% of the respondents reported a reduced sleep quality, and 7.2% a moderate generalized anxiety; proceeding simultaneously with high peaks. Finally, more than twice as many respondents showed psychological burdens. Conclusion The COVID-19-fear decreased within six weeks to the level before the shutdown, indicating a habituation to the threatening situation. However, generalized anxiety remained elevated over time. Sleep disturbances, generalized anxiety as well as economical stock alterations develop in advance to infectiological trends which demands consequent and comprehensible information policies.

Younger people are more vulnerable to stress, anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic: A global cross-sectional survey

“…This is not surprising, given the well-established association between sleep and psychopathology during the pandemic previously reported. ( Hetkamp et al, 2020 ; Huang et al, 2020 ; Stanton et al, 2020 ) Previous studies have shown that sleep and affective brain functioning are linked. ( Palmer and Alfano, 2017 ) Sleep disturbances also increase the risk of depression and anxiety.…”

“…Apart from the physical toll of the disease itself, people across the globe are experiencing heightened anxiety and stress due to financial distress, social distancing, quarantining and stay-at-home orders. ( Li et al, 2020 ; McGinty et al, 2020 ; Pierce et al, 2020 ; Hetkamp et al, 2020 ) These restrictions have dramatically impacted our personal, social and occupational functioning. The psychological effect of these changes and uncertainty is expected to be significant.…”

COVID-19-Pandemie trifft auf Psyche der Bevölkerung: Gibt es einen Tsunami psychischer Störungen?

“…Ähnliches suggerieren eine französische und eine deutsche Studie, die Daten aus der Zeit nach dem Lockdown erhoben haben. Während in Frankreich sowohl Angst als auch Depression nach den Lockerungen der Restriktionen deutlich zurückgingen [19], war dies in der deutschen Studie bezüglich Angst der Fall; Depressivität wurde nicht gemessen [20]. Das sozioökonomische Panel (SOEP) legt Ergebnisse vor für Depressivität und Angst gemessen mit dem PHQ-4 für 2016, 2019 und April 2020, die in der Gesamtschau keine deutliche pandemiebedingte Erhöhung zeigen [21].…”

Implementierung und Evaluation einer Telefonhotline zur professionellen Ersthilfe bei psychischen Belastungen durch die COVID-19-Pandemie in Baden-Württemberg

“…Demnach äußerten im März 2020, zum Höhepunkt der ersten Infektionswelle, 49 % aller Deutschen eine große oder sehr große Angst vor einer möglichen Infektion [ 3 ]. Eine deutsche Studie zeigte, dass die Corona-Angst zu Beginn der Pandemie schnell zunahm und mit einer späteren generalisierten Angst und Schlafstörungen einherging [ 4 ]. Die Angst zeigte sich besonders ausgeprägt bei vulnerablen Gruppen (z.…”