Trends in prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms and effects of sociodemographic variables before and after the first wave of COVID-19 in Qatar

Background

Prevalence trends from Arabic speaking countries on psychiatric symptoms before and after COVID-19 pandemic is lacking. We estimated the point prevalence and change in depression and anxiety symptoms scores in relation to sociodemographic variables following the resolution of the first wave in Qatar compared with before the pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a trend analysis using repeated nationally representative cross-sectional surveys spanning 2017, 2018, 2020/2021 and using the Physician Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms. Negative binomial regression modelled changes in these symptoms in relation sociodemographics and survey year.

Results

The two-week prevalence of depressive symptoms (≥10 on the PHQ-9) was 6.6% in 2017 and 6.5% in 2020/2021 (p = 0.986). The two-week prevalence of anxiety symptoms (≥10 or higher on the GAD-7) was 3.6% in 2018 and 5.1% in 2020/2021 (p = 0.062). The data for 2020/21 showed a 35.1% and 29.2% decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms scores compared to pre-pandemic years (2017/2018) after adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

Limitations

Screening tools rather than structured interviews were to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions

Prevalence for depression and anxiety post the first COVID wave did not differ significantly to pre-pandemic estimates. The end of the first wave of the pandemic had a ‘levelling’ effect on these symptoms and their associations with traditional sociodemographic risk factors. The 2020/21 depression and anxiety symptoms scores remained high for Qataris and Arabs, suggesting that these cultural groups may benefit most from public mental health interventions.