Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on mental health among Albanian people residing in the country and abroad - Implications for mental care.
Fatjona Kamberi, Jerina Jaho, Enkeleint Aggelos Mechili and 2 others
PMID 33280673WHAT IT FOUND
Albanian adults in quarantine were classified as having mild depression in 31.82% of 715 analysed responses and moderate depression in 12.90%; women had the highest scores for depressed mood, tiredness and appetite problems.
Key findings
01Among 715 analysed participants, 31.82% were classified as having mild depression and 12.90% as having moderate depression on PHQ-9.
02Female participants had the highest scores for little interest or pleasure, feeling down or hopeless, tiredness, and poor appetite or overeating.
0343 participants (6.11%) reported thoughts of being better off dead or hurting themselves for several days.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The survey was posted on social media, so it mostly reached younger and female respondents; 78.41% were female, 48.84% were aged 21 to 30 and 25.58% were aged 31 to 40. The paper analysed 715 of 752 completed questionnaires, so incomplete responses were removed. The study used self-reported PHQ-9 scores, not clinician assessment. It measured people at one point during quarantine, with no pre-lockdown comparison, so it cannot show that quarantine caused depression. The sample was Albanian adults and Albanians abroad, so it may not apply to other countries or age groups.
Declared interests
The study received no funding, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that quarantine caused depression or that PHQ-9 screening improves care. The study is a web survey of mostly young women, with no pre-quarantine comparison and no tested intervention.