مقاله انگلیسی نجات یافتن از یک پاندمی جهانی
Abstract
Introduction
Material and methods
Results
Discussion
References
ABSTRACT
Background: The world has been experiencing one of the most significant worldwide health pandemics in modern history. The result has been increased depression, anxiety, and loneliness in the general population. However, populations who demonstrated pre-pandemic emotional disturbance and social isolation, such as individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), are likely uniquely vulnerable to such symptoms. Objective: The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the emotional outcomes, including reports of loneliness, in individuals with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic. We additionally sought to examine how individuals’ experiences during the pandemic may contribute to a specific COVID-19-related depression or anxiety. Methods: 142 individuals with MS who previously participated in a national, online, survey-based study were asked to complete an online survey assessing their current level of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Increases in the rates of depression and anxiety were noted, with approximately 54% and 33% reporting “new” depression or anxiety, respectively. Given this increase, we examined how individuals with “new” depression or anxiety differed from those without depression and anxiety and those with pre-pandemic depression and/or anxiety. Significant differences in person-specific factors (e.g., personality, self-efficacy) were noted between the groups. Increased loneliness was also found among both those with depression or anxiety regardless of whether “new” or pre-pandemic. Finally, all those depressed or anxious reported greater disruption and distress related to the COVID-19 pandemic with a trend for increased anxiety specifically related to the pandemic (e.g., fear or dying due to COVID-19) among those with new depression or anxiety when compared to those with existing depression or anxiety, suggesting an influence of the pandemic that is specific to reports of new depression or anxiety. Conclusion: Findings suggest increased depression, anxiety, and loneliness among individuals with MS following the COVID-19 pandemic, with reports of “new” depression or anxiety, which appears to be related to the pandemic, specifically. Moreover, factors commonly associated with depression or anxiety in MS (e.g., personality, self-efficacy) were more common among those with existing depression or anxiety but not among those experiencing new depression or anxiety. These differences should be considered when attempting to ameliorate the impact of the COVID-19 among those experiencing emotional distress.
Introduction
In March 2020, the United States entered one of the most significant worldwide health pandemics in modern history. The novelty of the virus, high rate of transmissibility, and, in some cases, lack of compliance with recommended safety precautions to aid in mitigating the pandemic renders an overarching sense of fear and despair for many. Moreover, the prescription of social distancing reduces social support and connectedness, which is well-known to have a protective and fostering effect on health and well-being (Cassel, 1976; Cobb, 1976).Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have shown increased mental health concerns (Peterson et al., 2021) and loneliness among those contending with the pandemic and societal restrictions. Social restriction to limit transmission have placed vulnerable populations, such as those with pre-existing conditions, at increased risk for in loneliness. In fact, among 315 individuals with chronic illnesses, these at-risk individuals reported significantly greater levels of loneliness only one month into social distancing, with rates of loneliness doubling during the pandemic (Elran-Barak and Mozeikov, 2020). Mental health concerns and loneliness are common in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), which may be exacerbated by such restrictions. The MS population experiences higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general population, thought to be in part due to brain pathology due to MS (e.g., lesion load) (Feinstein, 2004), as well as adjustment factors associated with living with a chronic illness (Arnett et al., 2008).