Daly, Michael and MacLachlan, Malcolm and Maguire, Rebecca and Power, Joanna McHugh and Nolan, Ann and Shevlin, Mark and Spikol, Eric and Vallières, Frédérique and Hyland, Philip (2021) Changes in PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 5. p. 100184. ISSN 2666-9153

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Abstract

Background: : In this study, we compared the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic across nationally representative samples of Irish adults. Methods: : Participants were sampled in February 2019 (N = 1,020), April 2020 (N = 1,041), May 2020 (N = 1,032), and December 2020 (N = 1,100) using the same self-report measures. Results: : The prevalence of PTSD significantly increased from 12.5% in 2019 to 18.0% in April 2020, to 22.0% in May, and returning to 17.6% in December 2020. PTSD increases were most consistently observed in males, those aged 18–34 years, those without a university qualification, and those living in the Leinster region of Ireland, where the capital city of Dublin is located. There were no significant changes in the prevalence of depression or GAD. Limitations: : The 2020 samples were not completely independent of one another and while the analysis took this into account, this bias cannot be completely removed. Conclusions: : These findings show an increase in PTSD during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period and suggest specificity in mental health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as: Michael Daly, Malcolm MacLachlan, Rebecca Maguire, Joanna McHugh Power, Ann Nolan, Mark Shevlin, Eric Spikol, Frédérique Vallières, Philip Hyland, Changes in PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland, Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, Volume 5, 2021, 100184, ISSN 2666-9153, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100184.
Keywords:	COVID-19; PTSD; Depression; Anxiety; Descriptive survey study;
Academic Unit:	Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	16986
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100184
Depositing User:	Philip Hyland
Date Deposited:	02 Mar 2023 15:31
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
Publisher:	Science Direct
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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