Estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and treatment of depressive symptoms in Peru: an interrupted time series analysis in 2014–2021

Abstract

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic increased the burden of mental disorders worldwide. Peru has been one of the countries most affected by COVID-19, however, studies evaluating the medium and long-term consequences of the pandemic on Peruvians’ mental health are recent and represent a new field of study in proliferation. We aimed to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and treatment of depressive symptoms using nationally representative surveys in Peru. Methods Our study is an analysis of secondary data. We carried out a time series cross-sectional analysis based on the National Demographic and Health Survey of Peru, collected using a complex sampling design. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to measure mild (5–9 points), moderate (10–14 points), and severe (15 points or more) depressive symptoms. The participants were men and women aged 15 years and older, living in urban and rural areas of all regions of Peru. The main statistical analysis used segmented regression with Newey-West standard errors, taking into account that each year of the evaluation was divided into four measures (quarter measure). Results We included 259,516 participants. An average quarterly increase of 0.17% (95% CI 0.03–0.32%) in the prevalence of moderate depressive symptoms was identified after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (approximately an increase of 1583 new cases of moderate depressive symptoms by each quarter). The percentage of cases treated for mild depressive symptoms increased quarterly by an average of 0.46% (95% CI 0.20–0.71%) after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (approximately an increase of 1242 new cases treated for mild depressive symptoms by each quarter). Conclusion In Peru, increases in the prevalence of moderate depressive symptoms and the proportion of cases treated with mild depressive symptoms were found after the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study is a precedent for future research assessing the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the proportion of cases receiving treatment during the pandemic and post-pandemic years.

Provision of community mental health care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A time series analysis in Peru

“…These findings suggest that, as a whole, that CMHCs managed to cope with the difficulties that the COVID-19 pandemic produced in mental health services. Our results are consistent with a population-based study that found a trend toward an increase in people with depressive symptoms in Peru who had access to treatment during the pandemic (Villarreal-Zegarra et al, 2023).…”

Prevalence and factors associated with burnout syndrome in Peruvian health professionals before the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

“…Therefore, our study could provide a baseline estimate for pre-pandemic assessments. There is evidence that the prevalence and intensity of emotional problems in the population increased during the pandemic [ 77 ]. In addition, our results contribute to knowing the prevalence of BS by the subgroups already mentioned, data that are necessary for the design of public policies for the protection of occupational health (license for temporary disability) and the promotion of well-being, prioritizing certain regions, occupational groups, work areas and dimensions of BS, to control and reduce BS and improve the lifestyles of health professionals and the quality of patient care.…”

When COVID-19 strikes mental health: a measurement analysis of reassurance seeking behavior scale in Peruvian population

“…However, in the present study, we can confirm a significant relationship between reassurance seeking behavior and depression, albeit with a small effect. It is important to address this issue because the prevalence of depression has increased sevenfold since the COVID-19 outbreak (Bueno-Notivol et al, 2021;Villarreal-Zegarra et al, 2023). 10.3389/fpsyg.2023 National, as well as international Public Health institutions are advised to address the state of general public mental health, in order to improve the wellbeing of citizens.…”

“…However, in the present study, we can confirm a significant relationship between reassurance seeking behavior and depression, albeit with a small effect. It is important to address this issue because the prevalence of depression has increased sevenfold since the COVID-19 outbreak ( Bueno-Notivol et al, 2021 ; Villarreal-Zegarra et al, 2023 ).…”