Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Rare Diseases during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Juan Carlos Sánchez-García, Jonathan Cortés-Martín, Raquel Rodríguez-Blanque, Ana Eugenia Marín-Jiménez, Maria Montiel-Troya and Lourdes Díaz-Rodríguez
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Juan Carlos Sánchez-García: Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, JMADOC, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Jonathan Cortés-Martín: Research Group CTS 1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain
Raquel Rodríguez-Blanque: Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, Distrito Sanitario Granada-Metropolitano, 18013 Granada, Spain
Ana Eugenia Marín-Jiménez: Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, Quantitative Methods for the Economics and Enterprise, Faculty of Economics and Business Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Maria Montiel-Troya: Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, School of Nursing Ceuta Campus, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
Lourdes Díaz-Rodríguez: Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Scientific knowledge on depression and anxiety in patients with rare diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic is scarce; however, it is essential to perform comprehensive management of these patients. The aim of this study was to research how the situation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has influenced the lives of patients with rare diseases regarding depression and anxiety. This Spanish study considered a heterogeneous population sample of 86 patients with confirmed diagnosis of different rare diseases. Participants took part in a cross-sectional online study by completing specific questionnaires on the study topic. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) was used for evaluating anxiety. Data collection through an online questionnaire allowed for a greater population scope and therefore the inclusion patients of other nationalities in the study sample. Finally, as a general result, this study found that, in the face of the pandemic, anxiety and depression remained at a higher level in this group than in the general population, making these patients a vulnerable population group.

Keywords: rare disease; depression; anxiety; COVID-19; SARS CoV-2; pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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