TITLE:
Evaluation of the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Chinese Patients with Common Mental Disorders in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Hoi Tik Fung, Kit Ping Loretta Lai, Man Hei Matthew Luk, Pang Fai Chan
KEYWORDS:
Psychological, COVID-19, Common Mental Disorders, Primary Care
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.12 No.2,
April
13,
2022
ABSTRACT: Purpose: Our study aimed to
evaluate the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Chinese patients with
common mental disorders in primary care in Hong Kong. Method: A
cross-sectional study was conducted on 102 Chinese patients with common mental
disorders and being followed up in two public integrated mental health clinics
in Hong Kong from 1st November 2020 to 31st January 2021.
Patients would be evaluated about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their mood
and daily life by using a questionnaire which assessed social distancing
effects, financial impact, relationship with family, anxiety and depressive
symptoms. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 Questionnaire (GAD-7) would also be used to
assess patients’ mood symptoms. Factors which were related to COVID-19 pandemic
and associated with anxiety or depressive symptoms would be analysed. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 58.0 years and more patients were female
(77.5%). There were 84.3% and 72.5% of patients reported their anxiety and
depressive symptoms being affected by COVID-19 pandemic respectively. It was
found that 17.6% of patients had their income decreased or were unemployed.
About one-third (30.4%) of patients indicated that their relationship with
their family was worsened while 8.8% was improved.
Social distancing was significantly associated with anxiety (p = 0.006) and depressive symptoms (p 0.001) in patients with common mental disorders. Conclusion: There was considerably more psychological impact including an increase in anxiety
and depressive symptoms due to COVID-19 pandemic in Chinese patients with
existing common mental disorders in primary care. Primary care physicians
should raise their awareness of the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic
on their patients. Our findings shed light on
mental health care planning and preventive measures during the COVID-19
pandemic and potential subsequent pandemics.