COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown Measures Impact on Mental Health Among the General Population in Italy

COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown Measures Impact on Mental Health Among the General Population in Italy

Giorgio Di Lorenzo, Rodolfo Rossi, Cinzia Niolu, Alberto Siracusano, Giorgio Di Lorenzo, Valentina Socci, Francesca Pacitti, Dalila Talevi, Sonia Mensi, Cinzia Niolu, Antinisca Di Marco, Alessandro Rossi, Alberto Siracusano

BackgroundThe psychological impact of the COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and lockdown measures on the Italian population are unknown. The current study assesses rates of mental health outcomes in the Italian general population three to 4 weeks into lockdown measures and explores the impact of COVID-19 related potential risk factors.MethodsA web-based survey spread throughout the internet between March 27th and April 6th 2020. Eighteen thousand one hundred forty-seven individuals completed the questionnaire, 79.6% women. Selected outcomes were post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, anxiety, insomnia, perceived stress, and adjustment disorder symptoms (ADS). Seemingly unrelated logistic regression analysis was performed to identify COVID-19 related risk factors.ResultsEndorsement rates for PTSS were 6,604 (37%), 3,084 (17.3%) for depression, 3,700 (20.8%) for anxiety, 1,301 (7.3%) for insomnia, 3,895 (21.8%) for high perceived stress and 4,092 (22.9%) for adjustment disorder. Being woman and younger age were associated with all of the selected outcomes. Quarantine was associated with PTSS, anxiety and ADS. Any recent COVID-related stressful life event was associated with all the selected outcomes. Discontinued working activity due to the COVID-19 was associated with all the selected outcomes, except for ADS; working more than usual was associated with PTSS, Perceived stress and ADS. Having a loved one deceased by COVID-19 was associated with PTSS, depression, perceived stress, and insomnia.ConclusionWe found high rates of negative mental health outcomes in the Italian general population 3 weeks into the COVID-19 lockdown measures and different COVID-19 related risk factors. These findings warrant further monitoring on the Italian population’s mental health.

2020

Anxiety, mental health, covid-19, Stress, Depression, trauma

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00790

Epidemiology and Health

Korean Society of Epidemiology

Psychiatry