Pandemic triggered anxiety among 80.5% people: Survey

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 14

Around 80.5% of population suffered from anxiety and 73.3% from depression during Covid, revealed a survey conducted by the Association of Physicians of India (Malwa branch) headed by its chairman Dr Vitull K Gupta.

Meanwhile, Dr Meghna Gupta, Dr Navjot Kaur, Dr Parneet Kaur Hari and Dr Kashish Goyal were the co-authors of the survey titled the “Prevalence of anxiety and depression in India among medicos and non-medicos during Covid”. The study has been accepted for publication by the SSR Institute of International Journal of Life Sciences.

The survey included 4,333 persons, of which 2,246 were medicos and 2,087 non-medicos. Also, 2,080 were in the age group of 20 to 40 years, 1,854 in 41 to 60 years and 399 were aged over 60. The sample size included 2,741 males and 1,592 females, while 2,335 subjects belonged to Punjab while 1,998 from out of the state.

The survey was conducted between October 1, 2020, to February 20, 2021, to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression in the Indian population during the Covid pandemic using hard copies and e-copies of completely voluntary anonymous questionnaire. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using generalised anxiety disorder questionnaire-7 (GAD-7) and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

The prevalence of anxiety in the total population stood at 80.5%, including 79.3% among medicos and 81.9% among non-medicos, while 73.3%, including 74.7% medicos and 71.7% non-medicos, were found suffering from depression during the pandemic.

The survey even revealed that the prevalence of anxiety and depression is more among women than men and is almost same in Punjab as well as out of the state. It also suggested the initiation of urgent measures to address mental health issues and its psychological impacts to contain and curb the adverse effects of mental disorders, including anxiety and depression.