The Influence of Research Follow-Up during COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Distress and Resilience: A Multicenter Cohort Study of Treatment-Resistant Depression

Pham Thi Thu Huong, Chia-Yi Wu, Ming-Been Lee, Wei-Chieh Hung, I-Ming Chen and Hsi-Chung Chen
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Pham Thi Thu Huong: School of Nursing, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Chia-Yi Wu: School of Nursing, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Ming-Been Lee: Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center, Taiwanese Society of Suicidology, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Wei-Chieh Hung: School of Nursing, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
I-Ming Chen: Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Hsi-Chung Chen: Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10051, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Background: During the COVID-19 outbreak, patients with mental disorders have faced more negative psychological consequences than the public. For people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), it is unclear whether research engagement would protect them from the deterioration of their symptoms. The study aimed to examine if chronic depressive patients would have improved resilience and mental distress levels after follow-up interviews during an observation period under COVID-19. Methods: The study was nested within a three-year prospective cohort study. A two-group comparison design was conducted, i.e., the follow-up group with regular research interviews every three months after baseline assessment and the control group with one assessment-only interview. The two groups were compared with demographics, psychosocial, and suicide information. Results: Baseline assessments were not significantly different in sociodemographic variables, suicide risks, mental distress, and resilience between groups. Significant differences were detected in resilient coping and mental distress levels ( p < 0.05). The follow-up group ( n = 46) experienced a higher level of resilient coping (37% vs. 25%) and lower level of mental distress (47.8% vs. 64.7%) than the control group ( n = 68). Conclusions: Findings highlight under universal government strategy against COVID-19, TRD patients receiving regular research follow-ups exhibited better resilience and less mental distress than those without regular support from healthcare providers.

Keywords: COVID-19; treatment-resistant depression; resilient coping; mental distress; follow-up study (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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