Anxiety, depression fluctuated with waves of COVID-19: study

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the nation’s mental health, according to a new study published in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly journal, MMWR.

The CDC said social isolation, coronavirus-related deaths and stress weighed heavily on Americans, forcing many to face new mental health challenges.

Researchers noted that anxiety and depression scores fluctuated throughout the pandemic and reflect changes in COVID-19 cases. Throughout the study, they found that the more average daily cases of COVID-19, the more people experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

From August 2020 to December 2020, there was a 13% nationwide increase in symptoms related to anxiety and a 14.8% increase in symptoms related to depression.

“We were really thinking of life or death,” said Dr. Panagiota Korenis, associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “The pandemic has certainly identified the need to not just take physical health in isolation and to really focus on the mental well-being of people.”

As the COVID vaccine rolled out, from December 2020 to June 2021, symptoms related to anxiety decreased by 26.8% and symptoms related to depression decreased by 24.8%.

However, the severity scores for both diseases remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.

“As this continues, we see the consequences of a lot of burnout.… I really believe we’re here for the long haul,” Korenis said. “If people take the time to think and are ready to get help, get treatment and take the time to do things that bring them joy, I think that’s really essential. . “

The researchers said the study underscored the need to make mental health resources readily and easily accessible during the pandemic.

The study involved more than 1.5 million adults and considered 19 different waves of COVID-19 to assess symptoms of anxiety and depression using questionnaires and surveys.

ABC News Medical Unit Associate Dr Adela Wu contributed to this report.