The Impact of Loneliness on Late-Life Depression and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

IF 4.4 2区医学 Q1 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Pub Date : 2025-01-21 DOI:10.1016/j.jagp.2025.01.003

Julia Müller, Moritz Elsaesser, Ruben Berger, Wiebke Müller, Martin Hellmich, Nadine Zehender, Steffi Riedel-Heller, Bettina H Bewernick, Michael Wagner, Lutz Frölich, Oliver Peters, Katharina Domschke, Frank Jessen, Martin Hautzinger, Forugh S Dafsari, Elisabeth Schramm

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the association of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and the course of depressive, anxiety and sleep symptoms after psychological treatment in older adults.

Methods: During the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, we assessed additional, original data of 132 participants aged ≥60 years who had completed psychological treatment for late-life depression (LLD) in the context of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial (CBT-late). We measured loneliness using the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Depression, anxiety and sleep symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

Results: Participants with higher loneliness scores (n = 44) experienced a significant worsening of depressive and anxiety symptoms during the pandemic (estimated marginal mean difference (emmd) of change in GDS between post-treatment and COVID-19 visit: GDS_emmd= -4.61, [95% CI: -6.97 to -2.26], GAI_emmd= -2.21, [95% CI: -3.76 to -0.65]), while those with low to moderate loneliness (n = 72) maintained stable mild symptoms (GDS_emmd= -1.39, [95% CI: -3.00 to 0.22], GAI_emmd= -0.49, [95% CI: -1.69 to 0.72]). All patients reported increased sleep disturbances during the pandemic regardless of loneliness, while remaining in the range for sub-threshold insomnia.

Conclusions: Our results suggest an association of significant loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and a clinically relevant worsening of depressive and anxiety symptoms in older adults. Loneliness assessments and interventions may be incorporated into treatments for LLD, particularly during pandemics or other crises.

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来源期刊

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

13.00

自引率

4.20%

发文量

381

审稿时长

26 days

期刊介绍： The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry is the leading source of information in the rapidly evolving field of geriatric psychiatry. This esteemed journal features peer-reviewed articles covering topics such as the diagnosis and classification of psychiatric disorders in older adults, epidemiological and biological correlates of mental health in the elderly, and psychopharmacology and other somatic treatments. Published twelve times a year, the journal serves as an authoritative resource for professionals in the field.