Vincent I O Agyapong1,2, Marianne Hrabok1,3, Reham Shalaby1, Wesley Vuong2, Jasmine M Noble1,4, April Gusnowski2, Kelly Mrklas5,6, Daniel Li1,2, Liana Urichuck1,2, Mark Snaterse2, Shireen Surood2, Bo Cao1, Xin-Min Li1, Russell Greiner1,7, Andrew J Greenshaw1,8. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2. Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Canada. 3. Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 4. Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 5. Strategic Clinical Networks™, Provincial Clinical Excellence, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada. 6. Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 7. Department of Computing Science, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 8. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital Hub for Mental Health, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study reports on the changes in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms of subscribers after 3 months using Text4Hope, a supportive text messaging program designed to provide support during the pandemic. METHODS: Standardized self-report measures were used to evaluate perceived stress (measured with the Perceived Stress Scale-10 [PSS-10]), anxiety (measured with the General Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 [GAD-7]), and depressive symptoms (measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]), at baseline and 3rd month (n = 373). RESULTS: After 3 months of using Text4Hope, subscribers' self-reports revealed significant (p< 0.001) mean score reductions compared with baseline on: the GAD-7 by 22.7%, PHQ-9 by 10.3%, and PSS-10 scores by 5.7%. Reductions in inferred prevalence rates for moderate to high symptoms were also observed, with anxiety demonstrating the largest reduction (15.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Observed Text4Hope-related reductions in psychological distress during COVID-19 indicate that Text4Hope is an effective, convenient, and accessible means of implementing a population-level psychological intervention.
BACKGROUND: This study reports on the changes in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms of subscribers after 3 months using Text4Hope, a supportive text messaging program designed to provide support during the pandemic. METHODS: Standardized self-report measures were used to evaluate perceived stress (measured with the Perceived Stress Scale-10 [PSS-10]), anxiety (measured with the General Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 [GAD-7]), and depressive symptoms (measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]), at baseline and 3rd month (n = 373). RESULTS: After 3 months of using Text4Hope, subscribers' self-reports revealed significant (p< 0.001) mean score reductions compared with baseline on: the GAD-7 by 22.7%, PHQ-9 by 10.3%, and PSS-10 scores by 5.7%. Reductions in inferred prevalence rates for moderate to high symptoms were also observed, with anxiety demonstrating the largest reduction (15.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Observed Text4Hope-related reductions in psychological distress during COVID-19 indicate that Text4Hope is an effective, convenient, and accessible means of implementing a population-level psychological intervention.
Entities:
Keywords:
community mental health services; emergency preparedness; health policy; mental disorders; psychological resilience
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