Greater Emotional Distress Due to Social Distancing and Greater Symptom Severity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Multicenter Study in Austria, Germany, and Denmark

Elena M. D. Schönthaler, Nina Dalkner, Michaela Ratzenhofer, Eva Fleischmann, Frederike T. Fellendorf, Susanne A. Bengesser, Armin Birner, Alexander Maget, Melanie Lenger, Martina Platzer, Robert Queissner, Adelina Tmava-Berisha, Christina Berndt, Julia Martini, Michael Bauer, Jon Dyg Sperling, Maj Vinberg and Eva Z. Reininghaus
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Elena M. D. Schönthaler: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Nina Dalkner: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Michaela Ratzenhofer: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Eva Fleischmann: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Frederike T. Fellendorf: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Susanne A. Bengesser: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Armin Birner: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Alexander Maget: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Melanie Lenger: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Martina Platzer: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Robert Queissner: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Adelina Tmava-Berisha: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
Christina Berndt: Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Julia Martini: Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Michael Bauer: Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Jon Dyg Sperling: Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatric Centre North Zealand, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark
Maj Vinberg: Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatric Centre North Zealand, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark
Eva Z. Reininghaus: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health of individuals with bipolar disorders (BD) is potentially more vulnerable, especially regarding COVID-19-related regulations and associated symptomatic changes. A multicentric online study was conducted in Austria, Germany, and Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, data from 494 participants were collected (203 individuals with BD, 291 healthy controls (HC)). Participants filled out questionnaires surveying emotional distress due to social distancing, fear of COVID-19, and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 to assess symptom severity at four points of measurement between 2020 and 2021. General linear mixed models were calculated to determine the difference between the groups in these pandemic specific factors. Individuals with BD reported higher distress due to social distancing than HC, independently of measurement times. Fear of COVID-19 did not differ between groups; however, it was elevated in times of higher infection and mortality due to COVID-19. Individuals with BD reported higher psychiatric symptom severity than HC; however, symptom severity decreased throughout the measured time in the pandemic. Overall, individuals with BD experienced more distress due to the COVID-19 situation than HC. A supportive mental health system is thus recommended to ensure enhanced care, especially in times of strict COVID-19-related regulations.

Keywords: bipolar disorder; COVID-19; pandemic; social distancing; anxiety; symptom load (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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