Mental Health Status before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients First Visiting a Psychosomatic Internal Medicine Clinic in Tokyo, Japan

Fumio Shaku, Motoko Ishiburo, Masako Miwa and Shuichiro Maruoka
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Fumio Shaku: Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine, Itabashi Hospital, Nihon University, 30-1, Oyaguchikamicho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 1738610, Japan
Motoko Ishiburo: Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine, Itabashi Hospital, Nihon University, 30-1, Oyaguchikamicho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 1738610, Japan
Masako Miwa: Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine, Itabashi Hospital, Nihon University, 30-1, Oyaguchikamicho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 1738610, Japan
Shuichiro Maruoka: Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine, Itabashi Hospital, Nihon University, 30-1, Oyaguchikamicho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 1738610, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has aggravated anxiety and depression worldwide, particularly in patients with chronic illnesses and mental disorders. Using validated questionnaires, in this paper, we examine the psychological effects of the pandemic in Japan in detail. The General Mental Health Scale (GHQ), the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were used to assess mental health, state and trait anxiety, and depression, respectively. The survey was completed during the patients’ first visits to the clinic of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine from November 2018 to April 2021. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare data from 226 participants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The GHQ total, GHQ subscales of “social dysfunction” and “anxiety and dysphoria”, and state anxiety scores were significantly higher during than before the pandemic. The GHQ total, some GHQ subscales, and state anxiety scores were significantly higher among male than female participants during the pandemic. The GHQ total, some GHQ subscales, CES-D, and state anxiety scores in those aged 10–39 years were significantly higher. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused mental health changes in many individuals based on their gender, age, and with time.

Keywords: anxiety; COVID-19; depression; mental health; pandemic; psychosomatic; CES-D; STAI; GHQ (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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