Abstract
Older age renders individuals vulnerable during public emergency crises. Considering that older adults are a highly heterogeneous and continuously growing demographic subgroup, this study aimed to assess the mental health impact of COVID-19 on two groups of older patients: a group of chronic physical disease and a group of chronic mental disease. A total of 102 patients completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and several questions regarding demographic characteristics. Suicidality was assessed by the 9th item of the PHQ-9. According to the results, older chronic disease patients showed higher levels of fear, whereas anxiety and depressive symptoms were present mainly in the group of older psychiatric patients. Suicidality was reported from a subtotal of 25.4% that was composed of 7.8% chronic disease patients and 17.6% psychiatric patients. Chronic physical disease and higher anxiety predicted more severe COVID-19-related fear.
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Recommended Citation
Holeva, Vasiliki; Nikopoulou, Vasiliki Aliki; Parlapani, Eleni; Karkaletsis, Konstantinos; Kokkoni, Styliani; Nouvakis, Dimitrios; Theocharis, Patroklos; and Diakogiannis, Ioannis
(2022)
"Fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression and suicide among elderly patients with chronic physical or mental diseases,"
Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences: Vol. 9:
Iss.
2, Article 9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/2392-7674.1318
Available at:
https://scholar.valpo.edu/jmms/vol9/iss2/9
Included in
Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology Commons, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Commons, Critical Care Commons, Infectious Disease Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Respiratory Tract Diseases Commons, Virus Diseases Commons