Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Sep;142(3):249-256.
doi: 10.1111/acps.13219. Epub 2020 Aug 9.

Anxiety and depression in the Republic of Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic

P Hyland  1   2 , M Shevlin  3 , O McBride  3 , J Murphy  3 , T Karatzias  4 , R P Bentall  5 , A Martinez  5 , F Vallières  2
Affiliations

Anxiety and depression in the Republic of Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic

P Hyland et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland resulted in a nationwide quarantine on March 27, 2020. This study represents the first assessment of rates of anxiety and depression in the general population of Ireland during the pandemic.

Aims: Our first aim was to estimate the probable prevalence rates of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression and to identify sociodemographic risk factors associated with screening positive for GAD or depression. Our second aim was to determine if COVID-19 related anxiety was highest amongst those in society at greatest risk of morality from COVID-19.

Method: Self-report data were collected from a nationally representative Irish sample (N = 1041) online between March 31 and April 5; the first week of the nationwide quarantine measures. Recognized cut-off scores on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were used to estimate rates of GAD and depression. Correlates of screening positive for GAD or depression were assessed using logistic regression analysis.

Results: GAD (20.0%), depression (22.8%) and GAD or depression (27.7%) was common. Screening positive for GAD or depression was associated with younger age, female sex, loss of income due to COVID-19, COVID-19 infection and higher perceived risk of COVID-19 infection. Citizens aged 65 and older had significantly higher levels of COVID-19 related anxiety than adults aged 18-34.

Conclusions: Initial results from this multi-wave study monitoring changes in population anxiety and depression throughout the pandemic indicate that GAD and depression were common experiences in the population during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; anxiety; coronavirus; depression; mental health.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Adhanom Ghebreyesus T. Addressing mental health needs: an integral part of COVID-19 response. World Psychiatry2020;19:129-130.
    1. Wang C, Pan R, Wan X et al. A Longitudinal Study on the Mental Health of General Population during the COVID-19 Epidemic in China. Brain Behav Immun 2020;87:40-48.
    1. McGinty EE, Presskreischer R, Han H, Barry CL. Psychological distress and loneliness reported by US adults. JAMA 2020;324:93.
    1. Day T, Park A, Madras N, Gumel A, Wu J. When is quarantine a useful control strategy for emerging infectious diseases? Am J Epidemiol. 2006;163:479-485.
    1. Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE et al. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. Lancet (London, England) 2020;395:912-920.