The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from Germany
Abstract Background The present study aims to delineate the role of preexisting depression for changes in common mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using mixed-effects linear regression models, we analyzed data on the course of depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire-2...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-01-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023392/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156307690913792 |
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| author | Christoph Benke Eva Asselmann Theresa M. Entringer Christiane A. Pané-Farré |
| author_facet | Christoph Benke Eva Asselmann Theresa M. Entringer Christiane A. Pané-Farré |
| author_sort | Christoph Benke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Background
The present study aims to delineate the role of preexisting depression for changes in common mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
Using mixed-effects linear regression models, we analyzed data on the course of depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2) symptoms as well as loneliness (three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale) in a subset of the Socio-Economic Panel Study, a large and nationally representative household panel study from Germany. Participants were assessed during the first COVID-19 wave in Germany (March 31 to July 4, 2020; n = 6,694) and prospectively followed up at the peak of the second COVID-19 wave (January 18 to February 15, 2021; n = 6,038).
Results
Overall, anxiety and depressive symptoms decreased, whereas loneliness increased from the first to the second COVID-19 wave. However, depressive symptoms increased and the surge in loneliness was steeper in those with versus without clinically relevant depressive symptoms in 2019 or a history of a depressive disorder before the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety symptoms remained stable throughout the pandemic in individuals with versus without clinically relevant depressive symptoms in 2019. Pre-pandemic depression was associated with overall higher depressive and anxiety symptoms and loneliness across both assessments. The stringency of lockdown measures did not affect the results.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that individuals with a history of depressive symptoms before the COVID-19 pandemic are at increased risk to experience an escalation of mental health problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, they might particularly profit from targeted prevention and early intervention programs.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:49:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74ee170398b847e1bff7bd17839c2575 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:49:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-74ee170398b847e1bff7bd17839c25752023-03-09T12:33:56ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-01-016510.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2339The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from GermanyChristoph Benke0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3595-1258Eva Asselmann1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2132-8852Theresa M. Entringer2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1149-7852Christiane A. Pané-Farré3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6047-6658Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, GermanyDifferential and Personality Psychology, HMU Health and Medical University, 14471 Potsdam, GermanySocio-Economic Panel, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), 10117 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany Abstract Background The present study aims to delineate the role of preexisting depression for changes in common mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using mixed-effects linear regression models, we analyzed data on the course of depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2) symptoms as well as loneliness (three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale) in a subset of the Socio-Economic Panel Study, a large and nationally representative household panel study from Germany. Participants were assessed during the first COVID-19 wave in Germany (March 31 to July 4, 2020; n = 6,694) and prospectively followed up at the peak of the second COVID-19 wave (January 18 to February 15, 2021; n = 6,038). Results Overall, anxiety and depressive symptoms decreased, whereas loneliness increased from the first to the second COVID-19 wave. However, depressive symptoms increased and the surge in loneliness was steeper in those with versus without clinically relevant depressive symptoms in 2019 or a history of a depressive disorder before the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety symptoms remained stable throughout the pandemic in individuals with versus without clinically relevant depressive symptoms in 2019. Pre-pandemic depression was associated with overall higher depressive and anxiety symptoms and loneliness across both assessments. The stringency of lockdown measures did not affect the results. Conclusions Our findings suggest that individuals with a history of depressive symptoms before the COVID-19 pandemic are at increased risk to experience an escalation of mental health problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, they might particularly profit from targeted prevention and early intervention programs. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023392/type/journal_articleDepressive disorderlockdown measuresrisk groupsocial distancing |
| spellingShingle | Christoph Benke Eva Asselmann Theresa M. Entringer Christiane A. Pané-Farré The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from Germany European Psychiatry Depressive disorder lockdown measures risk group social distancing |
| title | The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from Germany |
| title_full | The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from Germany |
| title_fullStr | The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from Germany |
| title_short | The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from Germany |
| title_sort | role of pre pandemic depression for changes in depression anxiety and loneliness during the covid 19 pandemic results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from germany |
| topic | Depressive disorder lockdown measures risk group social distancing |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822023392/type/journal_article |
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