Mental health status and psychosocial issues during Nationwide COVID-19 quarantine in Iran in 2020: A cross-sectional study in Mazandaran Province

Reskati, Maryam Hasannezhad; Shafizad, Misagh; Aarabi, Mohsen; Hedayatizadeh-Omran, Akbar; Khosravi, Sahar; Elyasi, Forouzan

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is spreading rapidly, and its psychosocial impact remains a big challenge. In this respect, quarantine has been recommended, as a significant practice, to prevent the given condition. Therefore, the present study was to determine the prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress and to reflect on the impact of COVID-19, as a traumatic stressor event, on individuals. This web-based survey was fulfilled via an online questionnaire, completed by respondents selected through the cluster sampling technique, from March 24 to April 10, 2020, living in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran. Accordingly, the data regarding demographic characteristics, physical health status, quarantine compliance, contact with COVID-19, and additional information were collected. The psychosocial impact of the pandemic was then assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the respondents’ mental health status was evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Data analysis was further performed by linear regression. The study findings, from 1075 respondents, revealed that 22.5% of the cases had moderate-to-severe depression, 38.5% of the individuals were suffering from moderate-to-severe anxiety, and 47.2% of the participants were experiencing moderate-to-severe stress. In 14.5% of the respondents, the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 also varied from the possibility of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to immunosuppression (p < 0.01). With the high prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress, mental health professionals are suggested to develop psychosocial interventions and support plans for the general population to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public mental health status.