Risk and protective factors, stressors, and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic – First results of the ESTSS COVID-19 pan-European ADJUST study

Lotzin, Annett; Krause, Linda; Acquarini, Elena; Ajduković, Dean; Ardino, Vittoria; Arnberg, Filip K.; Böttche, Maria; Bragesjö, Maria; Dragan, Małgorzata; Figueiredo-Braga, Margarida; Geležėlytė, Odeta; Grajewski, Piotr; Anastassiou‐Hadjicharalambous, Xenia; Javakhishvili, Jana Darejan; Kazlauskas, Evaldas; Lenferink, Lonneke; Lioupi, Chrysanthi; Lueger‐Schuster, Brigitte; Tsiskarishvili, Lela; Mooren, Trudy; Sales, Luísa; Stevanović, Aleksandra; Zrnić, Irina; Schäfer, Ingo; Consortium, ADJUST Study

doi:10.1080/20008198.2021.1964197

Cited by 37 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 58 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Regarding COVID-19-related non-PTEs in general, the higher number of experienced stressors was not significantly related to the overall PTSD symptom intensity at the second measurement (r = 0.15, p = 0.08). Recent research on the correlation between pandemic-related stressors and mental health problems in the general population revealed higher levels of symptoms of adjustment disorder in those with a variety of COVID-19-related stressors [ 31 ]. Among veterans with an increased level of mental health suffering, different COVID-related stressors appeared to be the strongest risk factors for increased suicidality [ 9 ], increased distress [ 10 ], common mental disorders, and hazardous drinking [ 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PTSD Symptoms and Coping with COVID-19 Pandemic among Treatment-Seeking Veterans: Prospective Cohort Study

Letica-Crepulja

Stevanović

Palaić

et al. 2022

JCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The aim of this study was to examine post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom levels and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic among treatment-seeking veterans with pre-existing PTSD. Method: A cohort of 176 male treatment-seeking veterans with pre-existing PTSD during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (T1) and 132 participants from the same cohort one year after the onset of the pandemic (T2) participated in a longitudinal study. All participants responded to a COVID-19-related questionnaire and the following measures: the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Brief COPE. Results: The intensity of overall PTSD symptoms, avoidance symptoms and negative alterations in cognitions and mood was lower at T2. PTSD symptoms were not significantly correlated with SARS-CoV-2 potentially traumatic events (PTE) at T2. Veterans scored higher on emotion-focused and problem-focused coping than on dysfunctional coping. Conclusions: Veterans with pre-existing PTSD who were receiving long-term treatment coped with COVID-19 stressors without the effects of retraumatization and a consequent worsening of PTSD symptoms.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PTSD Symptoms and Coping with COVID-19 Pandemic among Treatment-Seeking Veterans: Prospective Cohort Study

Letica-Crepulja

Stevanović

Palaić

et al. 2022

JCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Survivors of childhood abuse reported that preventive measures such as wearing protection over the mouth and nose reactivated trauma-related feelings such as powerless, helplessness, and limited self-determination; at the same time, some individuals with a history of childhood abuse felt safer than before the pandemic by keeping a distance and reducing physical contact (UKASK, 2020 ). In an ongoing international cohort study on symptoms of adjustment disorder (Lotzin, Krause, et al, 2021 ), restricted physical and social contacts, restricted leisure activities, work-related problems, and difficult housing conditions were associated with symptoms of adjustment disorders.…”

Section: Covid-19-related Mental Health Burden In Five European Count...mentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In an online cross-sectional study, in the convenience sample of 2088 respondents from the general population, high levels of symptoms for mental disorders were observed for anxiety (22.5%), depression (27.3%), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (12.1%), and adjustment disorder (36.0%) (Makhashvili et al, 2020 ). According to the findings of the ESTSS pan-European ADJUST study, out of the 11 countries participating in the study, Georgia and another Eastern European country (Lithuania) are experiencing the highest level of adjustment disorder symptoms (Lotzin, Krause, et al, 2021 ). However, no baseline pre-pandemic data are available for either of these countries to allow an insight into the extent to which the revealed picture can be attributed to the pandemic.…”

Section: Covid-19-related Mental Health Burden In Five European Count...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Germany and Portugal, found increased levels of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, as well as of adjustment disorder, in the early phase of the pandemic. The ESTSS pan-European ADJUST study, which has been implemented in 11 ESTSS member countries, revealed that the level of symptoms of adjustment disorder varied by country, with Georgia and Lithuania showing higher scores for adjustment disorder than the remaining nine countries (Lotzin, Krause, et al, 2021 ). These results are in line with the findings of another international study that found increased mental health problems in Latin America compared to other countries (Olff et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Lessons Learned and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: five lessons from the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Javakhishvili

Arnberg

Greenberg

et al. 2022

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The paper provides insights into the mental health consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from the Central, Eastern, Nordic, Southern, and Western subregions of Europe, represented by five member countries of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS). On the basis of the existing national research and experiences in these countries, we propose five lessons learned. (1) There is no evidence of a mental health pandemic so far in the countries in focus. No increase in severe mental disorders but some increase in the symptoms of common mental health disorders are observable. More high-quality longitudinal studies are needed to understand the mental health burden of the pandemic. (2) The pandemic affects countries (including the mental health situation) differently, depending on the level of the exposure, management policies, pre-pandemic structural characteristics, and healthcare resources. (3) The pandemic affects people differently: the exposure severity to pandemic-related stressors differs between individuals, as well as individual resources to cope with these stressors. There are winners and losers as well as identifiable at-risk groups that need particular attention. (4) Besides the negative consequences, the pandemic has had a positive impact. The rapidly applied innovations within the system of healthcare responses provide a window of opportunity for positive changes in mental healthcare policies, strategies, and practices. The increased focus on mental health during the pandemic may contribute to the prioritization of mental health issues at policy-making and organizational levels and may reduce stigma. (5) A stress- and trauma-informed response to COVID-19 is required. The European community of psychotraumatologists under the leadership of ESTSS plays an important role in promoting stress- and trauma-informed healthcare and policies of pandemic management. Based on the lessons learned, we propose a stepped-care public mental health model for the prevention of adverse mental health outcomes during pandemics. HIGHLIGHTS Population mental health is affected differently in the COVID-19 pandemic: there are winners and losers, as well as identifiable at-risk groups that need particular attention. A stress- and trauma-informed public mental health stepped-care model can address pandemic-related mental health burden in a systematic way.

show abstract

“…While interpreting the results of studies into the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, one should consider the time of research and the successive waves of increase and decrease in the frequency of infections. From a long-term perspective, we can expect adaptation to new living conditions and an increased sense of safety after the introduction of mass vaccination [ 41 ], but also increasing symptoms of persistent anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress [ 42 ]. When interpersonal relationships are concerned, differences in the functioning of formal or informal relationships and sexual life can be expected between the first and subsequent months of the pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Assessment of Sexual Life—Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys among Polish Adults in 2017, 2020 and 2021

Izdebski

Słowikowska-Hilczer

Mazur

2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The study aims to investigate whether assessment of sexual life remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two surveys were conducted among Polish adults aged 18–70 years in June 2020 (n = 2042; perspective of last 2–3 months) and in June 2021 (n = 2418; last 12 months). Data from 2017 (n = 1980) were used as a reference point. Four questions allowed for defining five sexual life assessment profiles (k-means cluster analysis). Their characteristics were presented using 12 variables and 16 factors that contributed to difficulties in sexual life. The 2020 survey showed a temporary increase in the importance of sexual life and the frequency of sexual intercourse. However, the percentage of respondents representing the most favorable profile decreased significantly over the consecutive survey periods (47.1%, 34.2%, and 32.3%, respectively). Pandemic-induced fatigue and stress as well as the permanent presence of others at home were reported as two main factors negatively affecting the frequency of sexual intercourse during the pandemic. Respondents who assessed their sexual life as poor were more likely to consider illness, depression, and low self-esteem as factors negatively impacting their sexual life in 2021 than a year earlier. The results confirmed that as the pandemic drew on, the assessment of sexual life changed compared to the time around the first lockdown.

show abstract

Risk and protective factors, stressors, and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic – First results of the ESTSS COVID-19 pan-European ADJUST study

Cited by 37 publications

References 58 publications

PTSD Symptoms and Coping with COVID-19 Pandemic among Treatment-Seeking Veterans: Prospective Cohort Study

PTSD Symptoms and Coping with COVID-19 Pandemic among Treatment-Seeking Veterans: Prospective Cohort Study

Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: five lessons from the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Assessment of Sexual Life—Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys among Polish Adults in 2017, 2020 and 2021

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About