Evaluation of Coronavirus Anxiety Levels and Coping Strategies of Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder Patients During the Covid-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and panic disorder (PD), whom we have frequently seen in our hospital practice during the pandemic, with healthy controls (HC) in terms of coronavirus anxiety levels and coping strategies. METHODS: In this study, the Sociodemographic Data Form, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale were applied to the participants. 30 MDD patients, 32 GAD patients, 31 PD patients and 38 HCs, totaling 131 participants, constituted the sample of the study. RESULTS: Evaluation of the CAS scores of the participants revealed that HC scored 3.306 (p=0.002) points lower than GAD patients and 3.014 (p=0.005) points lower than PD patients, while HC and major depression patients were not statistically different in terms of CAS scores (p=0.880). In the comparison of coping strategies, HC scored 3.151 (p<0.001) points higher than MDD patients and 2.059 (p=0.004) points higher than GAD patients in terms of “active coping.” In terms of “planning,” HC scored 2.726 (p<0.001) points higher than MDD patients, 2.589 (p=0.001) points higher than GAD patients, and 2.171 (p=0.006) points higher than PD patients. CONCLUSION: This study found higher coronavirus anxiety levels in GAD and PD patients but no difference in MDD patients compared to HC during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may indicate that MDD patients can COPE better with coronavirus anxiety. Determining the coping strategies that individuals use to COPE with coronavirus anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic may help mental health professionals to control disease-related stressors and contribute to the treatment process.