Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety Symptoms in Long-Term Care Residents: A Multilevel Growth Curve Analysis.
Savannah G Rose, Rachel N Ward, Lisa M Lind and 1 others
PMID 37146644WHAT IT FOUND
Anxiety in long-term care residents rose slightly at the pandemic's start, then declined over time.
The pandemic did not change the rate of decline. Residents with severe anxiety or OCD had different trajectories, suggesting monitoring should focus on individual history.
Key findings
01Baseline anxiety was significantly higher after the pandemic started compared to before, but the difference was small.
02The trajectory of anxiety symptoms over time did not differ significantly between the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods.
03Individual factors like baseline anxiety severity, OCD diagnosis, and medication use influenced anxiety trajectories differently before and after the pandemic.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study used existing clinical records rather than standardized research protocols, leading to heterogeneity in when assessments were done. Anxiety was measured by clinician rating, not self-report, which may miss subjective experiences. The sample was predominantly White and female, and located in the South and Midwest, limiting generalizability. The study did not measure cognitive impairment directly, only neurocognitive diagnoses, which may affect how anxiety is expressed and treated.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The data came from a large behavioral health company, but the text does not state that the company funded or designed the study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the pandemic caused a worsening or improvement in the long-term course of anxiety. The study found no significant difference in the trajectory of anxiety over time between pre- and post-pandemic periods, only a small difference in starting levels.