The effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Psychosocial and behavioral interventions have been shown to significantly reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms in different populations. Recent evidence suggests that the mental health of the general population has deteriorated significantly since the start of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (C...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45839-0 |
| _version_ | 1797636956523331584 |
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| author | Jiali He Jingxia Lin Wen Sun Teris Cheung Yuan Cao Eugene Fu Sunny H. W. Chan Hector W. H. Tsang |
| author_facet | Jiali He Jingxia Lin Wen Sun Teris Cheung Yuan Cao Eugene Fu Sunny H. W. Chan Hector W. H. Tsang |
| author_sort | Jiali He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Psychosocial and behavioral interventions have been shown to significantly reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms in different populations. Recent evidence suggests that the mental health of the general population has deteriorated significantly since the start of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the therapeutic effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically searched six electronic databases between December 2019 and February 2022 including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. We included randomized clinical trials of psychosocial and behavioral interventions in individuals with depressive or anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to various control conditions. A total of 35 eligible studies with 5457 participants were included. The meta-analysis results showed that psychosocial and behavioral interventions had statistically significant moderate effects on depression [SMD = − 0.73, 95% CI (− 1.01, − 0.45), I 2 = 90%] and large effects on anxiety [SMD = − 0.90, 95% CI (− 1.19, − 0.60), I 2 = 92%], especially in the general population and COVID-19 survivors. Exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy were found to be the most effective treatments with moderate-to-large effect size for depression and anxiety during the outbreak of COVID-19. We also found the internet-based approach could also achieve almost equally significant effects on depression and anxiety compared with face-to-face traditional approach. Our findings suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy and physical exercise intervention are significantly effective for depression and anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of the delivery modes, and gender differences should be taken into consideration for better implementation of interventions in clinical and community practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:42:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41cd30c552fe407fb2bce233223a3fb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:42:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-41cd30c552fe407fb2bce233223a3fb62023-11-05T12:13:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-11-0113111410.1038/s41598-023-45839-0The effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysisJiali He0Jingxia Lin1Wen Sun2Teris Cheung3Yuan Cao4Eugene Fu5Sunny H. W. Chan6Hector W. H. Tsang7Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityMental Health Research Center, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversitySchool of Health and Social Wellbeing, University of the West of EnglandDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityAbstract Psychosocial and behavioral interventions have been shown to significantly reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms in different populations. Recent evidence suggests that the mental health of the general population has deteriorated significantly since the start of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the therapeutic effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically searched six electronic databases between December 2019 and February 2022 including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. We included randomized clinical trials of psychosocial and behavioral interventions in individuals with depressive or anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to various control conditions. A total of 35 eligible studies with 5457 participants were included. The meta-analysis results showed that psychosocial and behavioral interventions had statistically significant moderate effects on depression [SMD = − 0.73, 95% CI (− 1.01, − 0.45), I 2 = 90%] and large effects on anxiety [SMD = − 0.90, 95% CI (− 1.19, − 0.60), I 2 = 92%], especially in the general population and COVID-19 survivors. Exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy were found to be the most effective treatments with moderate-to-large effect size for depression and anxiety during the outbreak of COVID-19. We also found the internet-based approach could also achieve almost equally significant effects on depression and anxiety compared with face-to-face traditional approach. Our findings suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy and physical exercise intervention are significantly effective for depression and anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of the delivery modes, and gender differences should be taken into consideration for better implementation of interventions in clinical and community practice.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45839-0 |
| spellingShingle | Jiali He Jingxia Lin Wen Sun Teris Cheung Yuan Cao Eugene Fu Sunny H. W. Chan Hector W. H. Tsang The effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis Scientific Reports |
| title | The effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | The effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | The effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | The effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effects of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms during the covid 19 pandemic a systematic review and meta analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45839-0 |
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