Opportunities to engage in positive activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives of individuals with mood disorders.
Bipolar disorder
Covid-19 pandemic
Major depressive disorder
Patient perspective
Self-management
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
15 01 2024
15 01 2024
Historique:
received:
08
06
2023
revised:
06
10
2023
accepted:
21
10
2023
medline:
23
11
2023
pubmed:
28
10
2023
entrez:
27
10
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Despite cross-sectional population and clinical studies finding individuals with existing mood disorders being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, longitudinal studies have not shown a worsening of psychiatric symptoms. In response to these findings, we explored opportunities to engage in positive activities during the pandemic from the perspectives of individuals with mood disorders. A bespoke survey, containing closed and open questions, was sent to participants with mood disorders who were part of the UK Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN). Questions related to experiences of positive impacts of the pandemic, levels of engagement in positive activities and coping strategies. Response rate was 46.4 % (N = 1688). 61.9 % reported positive life changes during the pandemic, with slower pace of life reported most frequently (52.8 %). 47.3 % reported no adverse impact of the pandemic on implementing their usual coping strategies. Activities that respondents most commonly reported the same or greater level of engagement in compared to before the pandemic were avoiding known mood triggers (82.3 %), relaxation techniques (78.8 %) and the ability to maintain set routines (69.4 %). Responder bias may be present and experiences during the pandemic are likely to differ among other clinical and research mood disorders cohorts. Our findings may help to explain why longitudinal studies have not found a worsening of mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying potential facilitators to maintaining mental health have wider applicability, and may help to inform future evidence-based psychoeducation and self-management programmes for mood disorders.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Despite cross-sectional population and clinical studies finding individuals with existing mood disorders being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, longitudinal studies have not shown a worsening of psychiatric symptoms. In response to these findings, we explored opportunities to engage in positive activities during the pandemic from the perspectives of individuals with mood disorders.
METHODS
A bespoke survey, containing closed and open questions, was sent to participants with mood disorders who were part of the UK Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN). Questions related to experiences of positive impacts of the pandemic, levels of engagement in positive activities and coping strategies.
RESULTS
Response rate was 46.4 % (N = 1688). 61.9 % reported positive life changes during the pandemic, with slower pace of life reported most frequently (52.8 %). 47.3 % reported no adverse impact of the pandemic on implementing their usual coping strategies. Activities that respondents most commonly reported the same or greater level of engagement in compared to before the pandemic were avoiding known mood triggers (82.3 %), relaxation techniques (78.8 %) and the ability to maintain set routines (69.4 %).
LIMITATIONS
Responder bias may be present and experiences during the pandemic are likely to differ among other clinical and research mood disorders cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings may help to explain why longitudinal studies have not found a worsening of mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying potential facilitators to maintaining mental health have wider applicability, and may help to inform future evidence-based psychoeducation and self-management programmes for mood disorders.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37890534
pii: S0165-0327(23)01324-1
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.135
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
186-191Subventions
Organisme : Wellcome Trust
Pays : United Kingdom
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest None.