Abstract

Introduction

COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have provoked a considerable psychological impact in Spain. Some studies have reported greater psychological impact in the younger population. To date, no previous study has focused on depressive disorder (DD) patients based on their age.

Objectives

To describe the psychological impact on DD according to age.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of an online survey available from 19 to 26 March 2020. Out of a total of 21207 respondents, 608 (2.9%) reported suffering from DD (mean age ±SD = 41.2 years±14.07 [18-82], 80.6% women). The subsample (608) was divided according to age, “youngsters” <45 (57.4%)/ “elders” ≥45. DASS-21 and IES scales were employed. Statistical analyses: Chi-square, t-Student test.

Results

Both groups did not differ (p>0.05) in sex, having COVID-19 symptoms, having family/friends infected, or income changes. While youngsters were single more frequently (68.8% vs 14.3%, χ² = 179.7, p<0.001), elders had somatic illness more frequently (64.8% vs 39.7% χ² =30.401, p<0.001). Youngsters obtained higher scores in depression (4.69 vs 4.1, T=5.413, p<0.001), anxiety (2.86 vs 1.97, T=5.249, p<0.001) and stress (4.48 vs 3.17, T=6.355, p<0.001) DASS-21 subscales, as in intrusive (3.42 vs 3.05, T=1.984, p=0.048) and avoidant (4.64 vs 4.11, T=3.056, p=0.002) IES scores.

Conclusions

Despite the group of elders with depression being more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease and presenting more frequently somatic comorbidities, younger depressive patients suffered more from depressive, anxiety, stress and avoidant symptoms and intrusive thoughts, in line with previous reports in the general population.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Details

Title
COVID-19 psychological impact in patients with depressive disorder: Differences based on their age
Author
E Martín Gil 1 ; Valtueña-García, M 1 ; González-Blanco, L 2 ; F Dal Santo 1 ; Moya-Lacasa, C 1 ; C Álvarez Vázquez 1 ; Martínez-Cao, C 3 ; García-Alvarez, L 4 ; García-Portilla, M P 2 ; Saiz, P A 2 ; Bobes, J 2 

 Psychiatry, SESPA Mental Health Services of Principado de Asturias, OVIEDO, Spain; Department Of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain 
 Psychiatry, SESPA Mental Health Services of Principado de Asturias, OVIEDO, Spain; Department Of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Neuroscience And Sense Organs, ISPA HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS, Oviedo, Spain 
 Department Of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain 
 Department Of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Neuroscience And Sense Organs, ISPA HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS, Oviedo, Spain 
Pages
S674-S675
Publication year
2021
Publication date
Apr 2021
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
ISSN
09249338
e-ISSN
17783585
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2560869291
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.