1
|
Crawford MJ, King JD, McQuaid A, Bassett P, Leeson VC, Tella O, Di Simplicio M, Tyrer P, Tyrer H, Watt RG, Barnicot K. Severe COVID anxiety among adults in the United Kingdom: cohort study and nested feasibility trial. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:27. [PMID: 38184524 PMCID: PMC10771646 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05446-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with severe COVID anxiety have poor mental health and impaired functioning, but the course of severe COVID anxiety is unknown and the quality of evidence on the acceptability and impact of psychological interventions is low. METHODS A quantitative cohort study with a nested feasibility trial. Potential participants aged 18 and over, living in the UK with severe COVID anxiety, were recruited online and from primary care services. We examined levels of COVID anxiety in the six months after recruitment, and factors that influenced this, using linear regression. Those scoring above 20 on the short Health Anxiety Inventory were invited to participate in a feasibility trial of remotely delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Health Anxiety (CBT-HA). Exclusion criteria were recent COVID-19, current self-isolation, or current receipt of psychological treatment. Key outcomes for the feasibility trial were the level of uptake of CBT-HA and the rate of follow-up. RESULTS 204 (70.2%) of 285 people who took part in the cohort study completed the six month follow-up, for whom levels of COVID anxiety fell from 12.4 at baseline to 6.8 at six months (difference = -5.5, 95% CI = -6.0 to -4.9). Reductions in COVID anxiety were lower among older people, those living with a vulnerable person, those with lower baseline COVID anxiety, and those with higher levels of generalised anxiety and health anxiety at baseline. 36 (90%) of 40 participants enrolled in the nested feasibility trial were followed up at six months. 17 (80.9%) of 21 people in the active arm of the trial received four or more sessions of CBT-HA. We found improved mental health and social functioning among those in the active, but not the control arm of the trial (Mean difference in total score on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale between baseline and follow up, was 9.7 (95% CI = 5.8-13.6) among those in the active, and 1.0 (95% C.I. = -4.6 to 6.6) among those in the control arm of the trial. CONCLUSIONS While the mental health of people with severe COVID anxiety appears to improve over time, many continue to experience high levels of anxiety and poor social functioning. Health anxiety is highly prevalent among people with severe COVID anxiety and may provide a target for psychological treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION Retrospectively registered at ISRCTN14973494 on 09/09/2021.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mike J Crawford
- Division of Psychiatry, Commonwealth Building, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
| | - Jacob D King
- Division of Psychiatry, Commonwealth Building, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Aisling McQuaid
- Division of Psychiatry, Commonwealth Building, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Paul Bassett
- Statsconsultancy Ltd, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, UK
| | - Verity C Leeson
- Division of Psychiatry, Commonwealth Building, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Oluwaseun Tella
- Division of Psychiatry, Commonwealth Building, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Martina Di Simplicio
- Division of Psychiatry, Commonwealth Building, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Peter Tyrer
- Division of Psychiatry, Commonwealth Building, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Helen Tyrer
- Division of Psychiatry, Commonwealth Building, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Richard G Watt
- Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Kirsten Barnicot
- Division of Health Services Research and Management, City, University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
King JD, McQuaid A, Leeson VC, Tella O, Crawford MJ. Characterising subgroups of people with severe COVID anxiety by latent profile analysis. J Affect Disord 2024; 344:115-121. [PMID: 37827258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with severe COVID anxiety have had experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic which are overwhelming, and have led to patterns of behaviours that add little protective benefit but are at the expense of other priorities in life. It appears to be a complex social and psychological phenomenon, influenced by demographic and social factors. Identifying subgroups of people with severe COVID anxiety would better place clinicians to assess and support this distress where indicated. METHODS Measurement tools assessing depression, generalised and health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, personality difficulty and alcohol use from 284 people living in United Kingdom with severe COVID anxiety were explored with latent profile analysis. Further analyses examined the associations of identified clusters with demographic and social factors and daily functioning, quality of life and protective behaviours. RESULTS A model with 4 classes provided the best fit. Distinct patterns of psychopathology emerged which were variably associated with demographic factors and COVID behaviours. LIMITATIONS Given the complex aetiology of COVID anxiety a number of factors which might better cluster subgroups are likely to have gone uncollected. Moreover, using data collected at a single time-point limits these results' ability to conclude whether observed relationships were the product of the pandemic or longstanding. CONCLUSIONS People living with severe COVID anxiety are a heterogenous group. This analysis adds to evidence that certain health behaviours and demographic factors are inextricably linked to poor mental health in people with COVID anxiety, and that targeting health behaviours with specific intervention might be beneficial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D King
- Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Aisling McQuaid
- Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Verity C Leeson
- Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Oluwaseun Tella
- Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Mike J Crawford
- Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
King JD, McQuaid A, Leeson VC, Samuel O, Grant J, Imran Azeem MS, Barnicot K, Crawford MJ. The association of severe COVID anxiety with poor social functioning, quality of life, and protective behaviours among adults in United Kingdom: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:117. [PMID: 36810010 PMCID: PMC9943584 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04595-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety about COVID-19 is common. For most people this is an appropriate response to the loss of livelihoods and loved-ones, disruptions to social networks, and uncertainty about the future. However, for others these anxieties relate to contracting the virus itself, a phenomenon termed COVID anxiety. Little is known about the characteristics of people with severe COVID anxiety or the impact it has on their daily lives. METHODS We conducted a two-phase cross-sectional survey of people aged 18 or over who were living in United Kingdom, self-identified as anxious about COVID-19, and had a score of ≥9 on the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. We recruited participants nationally through online adverts and locally via primary care services in London. Data on demographic and clinical factors were used in multiple regression modelling to examine the greatest contributors to functional impairment, poor health-related quality of life and protective behaviours in this sample of individuals with severe COVID anxiety. RESULTS We recruited 306 people with severe COVID anxiety between January and September 2021. Most were female (n = 246, 81.2%); they had a median age of 41 (range = 18-83). The majority of participants also had generalised anxiety (n = 270, 91.5%), depression (n = 247, 85.5%), and a quarter (n = 79, 26.3%) reported a physical health condition which put them at increased risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19. Half had severe social dysfunction (n = 151, 52.4%). One in ten reported never leaving their home, one in three washed all items brought into their house, one in five washed their hands constantly, and one in five of those with children reported not sending them to school because of fears of COVID-19. Increasing co-morbid depressive symptoms best explained functional impairment and poor quality of life after controlling for other factors. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the high degree of co-occuring mental health problems, and the extent of functional impairment and poor health-related quality of life among people with severe COVID anxiety. Further research is needed to establish the course of severe COVID anxiety as the pandemic progresses, and steps that can be taken to support people who experience this distress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D. King
- grid.413629.b0000 0001 0705 4923Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN London, UK
| | - Aisling McQuaid
- grid.413629.b0000 0001 0705 4923Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN London, UK
| | - Verity C. Leeson
- grid.413629.b0000 0001 0705 4923Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN London, UK
| | - Oluwaseun Samuel
- grid.413629.b0000 0001 0705 4923Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN London, UK
| | - Josiah Grant
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Kirsten Barnicot
- grid.28577.3f0000 0004 1936 8497Division of Health Services Research and Management, City University of London, London, UK
| | - Mike J. Crawford
- grid.413629.b0000 0001 0705 4923Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN London, UK
| |
Collapse
|