Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the health professionals (COMET-HP) study: depression, suicidal tendencies and conspiracism.

In Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology

INTRODUCTION : The current study aimed to investigate the rates of anxiety, clinical depression, and suicidality and their changes in health professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak.

MATERIALS AND METHODS : The data came from the larger COMET-G study. The study sample includes 12,792 health professionals from 40 countries (62.40% women aged 39.76 ± 11.70; 36.81% men aged 35.91 ± 11.00 and 0.78% non-binary gender aged 35.15 ± 13.03). Distress and clinical depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm, respectively.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS : Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses, and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables.

RESULTS : Clinical depression was detected in 13.16% with male doctors and 'non-binary genders' having the lowest rates (7.89 and 5.88% respectively) and 'non-binary gender' nurses and administrative staff had the highest (37.50%); distress was present in 15.19%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics, and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (24.64% vs. 9.62%; p < 0.0001). Suicidal tendencies were at least doubled in terms of RASS scores. Approximately one-third of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop clinical depression was associated with a history of Bipolar disorder (RR = 4.23).

CONCLUSIONS : The current study reported findings in health care professionals similar in magnitude and quality to those reported earlier in the general population although rates of clinical depression, suicidal tendencies, and adherence to conspiracy theories were much lower. However, the general model of factors interplay seems to be the same and this could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable.

N Fountoulakis Konstantinos, N Karakatsoulis Grigorios, Abraham Seri, Adorjan Kristina, Ahmed Helal Uddin, Alarcón Renato D, Arai Kiyomi, Auwal Sani Salihu, Bobes Julio, Bobes-Bascaran Teresa, Bourgin-Duchesnay Julie, Bredicean Cristina Ana, Bukelskis Laurynas, Burkadze Akaki, Cabrera Abud Indira Indiana, Castilla-Puentes Ruby, Cetkovich Marcelo, Colon-Rivera Hector, Corral Ricardo, Cortez-Vergara Carla, Crepin Piirika, de Berardis Domenico, Zamora Delgado Sergio, de Lucena David, de Sousa Avinash, di Stefano Ramona, Dodd Seetal, Elek Livia Priyanka, Elissa Anna, Erdelyi-Hamza Berta, Erzin Gamze, Etchevers Martin J, Falkai Peter, Farcas Adriana, Fedotov Ilya, Filatova Viktoriia, Fountoulakis Nikolaos K, Frankova Iryna, Franza Francesco, Frias Pedro, Galako Tatiana, Garay Cristian J, Garcia-Álvarez Leticia, García-Portilla Paz, Gonda Xenia, Gondek Tomasz M, Morera González Daniela, Gould Hilary, Grandinetti Paolo, Grau Arturo, Groudeva Violeta, Hagin Michal, Harada Takayuki, Hasan Tasdik M, Azreen Hashim Nurul, Hilbig Jan, Hossain Sahadat, Iakimova Rossitza, Ibrahim Mona, Iftene Felicia, Ignatenko Yulia, Irarrazaval Matias, Ismail Zaliha, Ismayilova Jamila, Jacobs Asaf, Jakovljević Miro, Jakšić Nenad, Javed Afzal, Yilmaz Kafali Helin, Karia Sagar, Kazakova Olga, Khalifa Doaa, Khaustova Olena, Koh Steve, Kopishinskaia Svetlana, Kosenko Korneliia, Koupidis Sotirios A, Kovacs Illes, Kulig Barbara, Lalljee Alisha, Liewig Justine, Majid Abdul, Malashonkova Evgeniia, Malik Khamelia, Iqbal Malik Najma, Mammadzada Gulay, Mandalia Bilvesh, Marazziti Donatella, Marčinko Darko, Martinez Stephanie, Matiekus Eimantas, Mejia Gabriela, Memon Roha Saeed, Meza Martínez Xarah Elenne, Mickevičiūtė Dalia, Milev Roumen, Mohammed Muftau, Molina-López Alejandro, Morozov Petr, Muhammad Nuru Suleiman, Mustač Filip, Naor Mika S, Nassieb Amira, Navickas Alvydas, Okasha Tarek, Pandova Milena, Panfil Anca-Livia, Panteleeva Liliya, Papava Ion, Patsali Mikaella E, Pavlichenko Alexey, Pejuskovic Bojana, Pinto da Costa Mariana, Popkov Mikhail, Popovic Dina, Raduan Nor Jannah Nasution, Vargas Ramírez Francisca, Rancans Elmars, Razali Salmi, Rebok Federico, Rewekant Anna, Reyes Flores Elena Ninoska, Rivera-Encinas María Teresa, Saiz Pilar A, Sánchez de Carmona Manuel, Saucedo Martínez David, Saw Jo Anne, Saygili Görkem, Schneidereit Patricia, Shah Bhumika, Shirasaka Tomohiro, Silagadze Ketevan, Sitanggang Satti, Skugarevsky Oleg, Spikina Anna, Mahalingappa Sridevi Sira, Stoyanova Maria, Szczegielniak Anna, Tamasan Simona Claudia, Tavormina Giuseppe, Tavormina Maurilio Giuseppe Maria, Theodorakis Pavlos N, Tohen Mauricio, Tsapakis Eva-Maria, Tukhvatullina Dina, Ullah Irfan, Vaidya Ratnaraj, Vega-Dienstmaier Johann M, Vrublevska Jelena, Vukovic Olivera, Vysotska Olga, Widiasih Natalia, Yashikhina Anna, Prezerakos Panagiotis E, Berk Michael, Levaj Sarah, Smirnova Daria

2023-Mar-03

Anxiety, COVID-19, Conspiracy theories, Depression, Health professionals, Mental disorders, Mental health, Psychiatry, Suicidality