Predictors and rates of PTSD, depression and anxiety in UK frontline health and social care workers during COVID-19

• Published in: European journal of psychotraumatology Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 1882781
• Main Authors: Greene, Talya, Harju-Seppänen, Jasmine, Adeniji, Mariam, Steel, Charlotte, Grey, Nick, Brewin, Chris R., Bloomfield, Michael A., Billings, Jo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.01.2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Ansiedad; Anxiety; Basic; Clinical significance; COVID-19; cuidado de salud y cuidado social; Depresión; depression; distress; frontline workers; health and social care; Mental depression; Mental disorders; pandemias; Pandemics; Post traumatic stress disorder; PTSD; sufrimiento; TEPT; trabajadores de primera línea; 一线工作者; 卫生和社会护理; 抑郁; 焦虑; 疫情; 精神痛苦; United Kingdom > UK; COVID-19; PTSD; distress; anxiety; depression; health and social care; pandemics; frontline workers
• ISSN: 2000-8066; 2000-8198; 2000-8066
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1882781

Background: Studies have shown that working in frontline healthcare roles during epidemics and pandemics was associated with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to identify demographic, work-related and other predictors for clinically significant PTSD, depression, and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK frontline health and social care workers (HSCWs), and to compare rates of distress across different groups of HCSWs working in different roles and settings. Methods: A convenience sample (n = 1194) of frontline UK HCSWs completed an online survey during the first wave of the pandemic (27 May - 23 July 2020). Participants worked in UK hospitals, nursing or care homes and other community settings. PTSD was assessed using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ); Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); Anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Results: Nearly 58% of respondents met the threshold for a clinically significant disorder (PTSD = 22%; anxiety = 47%; depression = 47%), and symptom levels were high across occupational groups and settings. Logistic regression analyses found that participants who were concerned about infecting others, who could not talk with their managers if there were not coping, who reported feeling stigmatized and who had not had reliable access to personal protective equipment (PPE) were more likely to meet criteria for a clinically significant mental disorder. Being redeployed during the pandemic, and having had COVID were associated with higher odds for PTSD. Higher household income was associated with reduced odds for a mental disorder. Conclusions: This study identified predictors of clinically significant distress during COVID-19 and highlights the need for reliable access to PPE and further investigation of barriers to communication between managers and staff. During the first UK COVID-19 wave, 22% met criteria for PTSD, 47% met criteria for anxiety, and 47% met criteria for depression. Being concerned about infecting others, not being able to tell managers about not coping, feeling stigmatized, and not having reliable access to personal protective equipment raised odds for distress.