Qingxia Wang1, Xiaoxia Cao2, Xiuying Wu3, Jiangfeng Liu4, Jingwen Xie4, Deren Hou4. 1. Department of Digestive Endoscopy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. 3. Department of Nursing, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. 4. Department of Neurology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of anxiety and depression in patients requiring emergency treatment during the epidemic of COVID-19 to identify the patients with acute psychological stress disorder. METHODS: During the COVID-19 epidemic, the medical staff divided the patients visiting the emergency department into suspected group, fever group and control group through interview of the patients at triage. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were distributed to each patient, and a trained medical staff was responsible for assisting the patient to complete the scales. RESULTS: A total of 557 sets of scales were distributed, including 211 in suspected COVID-19 case group, 167 in fever group and 179 in the control group. A total of 516 scales were retrieved, including 197 in suspected case group, 151 in fever group and 168 in control group. In the 3 groups, the incidence rates of anxiety and depression were 57.87% and 58.88%, 48.34% and 43.71%, and 18.31% and 18.99%, respectively, and the rates were significantly higher in suspected group and fever group than in the control group (P < 0.01), and significantly higher in suspected group than in fever group (P < 0.05). The standardized anxiety and depression scale scores in suspected case group, fever group and control group were 57.38±16.25 and 42.58±14.27, 51.23±15.29 and 38.32±15.39, and 32.58±17.8 and 12.25±12.94, respectively. Compared with the control group, both suspected case group and fever group had significantly higher standard scores for anxiety and depression (P < 0.01), and suspected case group had significantly higher standardized scores than fever group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Among the patients visiting the emergency treatment, the patients with suspected COVID-19 and common fever are more likely to develop anxiety and depressive symptoms.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of anxiety and depression in patients requiring emergency treatment during the epidemic of COVID-19 to identify the patients with acute psychological stress disorder. METHODS: During the COVID-19 epidemic, the medical staff divided the patients visiting the emergency department into suspected group, fever group and control group through interview of the patients at triage. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were distributed to each patient, and a trained medical staff was responsible for assisting the patient to complete the scales. RESULTS: A total of 557 sets of scales were distributed, including 211 in suspected COVID-19 case group, 167 in fever group and 179 in the control group. A total of 516 scales were retrieved, including 197 in suspected case group, 151 in fever group and 168 in control group. In the 3 groups, the incidence rates of anxiety and depression were 57.87% and 58.88%, 48.34% and 43.71%, and 18.31% and 18.99%, respectively, and the rates were significantly higher in suspected group and fever group than in the control group (P < 0.01), and significantly higher in suspected group than in fever group (P < 0.05). The standardized anxiety and depression scale scores in suspected case group, fever group and control group were 57.38±16.25 and 42.58±14.27, 51.23±15.29 and 38.32±15.39, and 32.58±17.8 and 12.25±12.94, respectively. Compared with the control group, both suspected case group and fever group had significantly higher standard scores for anxiety and depression (P < 0.01), and suspected case group had significantly higher standardized scores than fever group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Among the patients visiting the emergency treatment, the patients with suspected COVID-19 and common fever are more likely to develop anxiety and depressive symptoms.