Mental Health in Elderly Spanish People in Times of COVID-19 Outbreak

Jul 29, 2020The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

Mental health of older adults in Spain during the COVID-19 outbreak

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Abstract

Of the 1,639 participants surveyed, 150 (9.2%) were aged 60 or older.

Older adults reported lower levels of depression and acute stress compared to younger individuals.
The average depression score for those aged 60 and above was 3.02, while it was 4.30 for those under 60.
Acute stress scores were also lower in the elderly group, with averages of 3.68 versus 4.45 for younger participants.
Economic losses and increased use of anxiolytics were linked to higher emotional distress in older adults.
No significant gender differences were observed in any clinical measures of emotional symptoms.

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BACKGROUND: We aim to assess COVID-19 outbreak-related emotional symptoms, identify gender differences, and study the relationship between the emotional state and environmental features in the elderly.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study starting on March 29 to April 5, 2020 based on a national online survey using snowball sampling techniques. Symptoms of anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and acute stress (Acute Stress Disorder Inventory) were compared between people over and under 60 years old. Gender differences and the relationship of loneliness, regular exercise, economic losses and use of anxiolytics on the mental state were evaluated.

RESULTS: One thousand six hundred thirty-nine (150 [9.2%] aged ≥60) participants completed the survey. The greater than or equal to 60 group showed lower mean (SD) BDI levels than the less than 60 group (3.02 [3.28] versus 4.30 [4.93]); and lower mean (SD) acute stress disorder inventory scores than the less than 60 group (3.68 [3.20] versus 4.45 [3.06]). There were no gender differences in any of the clinical measures. The presence of economic losses as well as the increase in the use of anxiolytics was significantly associated with higher emotional distress in the elderly compared to the younger group.

CONCLUSIONS: Older people have shown less emotional distress, with no differences between men and women. Economic loss and substance use should be monitored to guarantee the emotional well-being of the elderly.

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Mental Health in Elderly Spanish People in Times of COVID-19 Outbreak

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