Anxiety and depression are associated with medical care avoidance during
the pandemic

Date:
September 3, 2020
Source:
University of Toronto
Summary:
New research shows U.S. adults who experience common symptoms of
anxiety and depression are at greater risk of delaying medical care
and not receiving non-COVID-19 medical care amidst the pandemic.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been empirical and anecdotal reports of declines in both emergency and ambulatory medical
visits.

However, little research has been conducted to identify why these declines
have occurred. New research now shows a strong association between mental health symptoms and medical care avoidance.


========================================================================== Among a sample of over 73,000 U.S. adults from the Household Pulse Survey,
a weekly survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that aims to collect
data on the social and economic impacts of COVID-19, researchers found
that adults who experienced four common symptoms of anxiety and depression
have upwards of two times greater risk of delaying medical care or not receiving needed non- coronavirus medical care amidst the pandemic.

"The results from our study are alarming given that delaying medical
care can have significant adverse short- and long-term health outcomes, depending on the condition," said Kyle T. Ganson, PhD, MSW, assistant
professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of
Social Work and lead author on the study. "We need to increase access to telehealth, and in the U.S., health insurance policies must be expanded
to cover telehealth services that address non-emergency medical concerns."
The study, published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine,,
found that in the four weeks prior to participating in the survey in
June, 41% of the sample delayed medical care. In addition, nearly one
third of the Americans surveyed did not receive necessary non-coronavirus medical care.

"Patients with chronic medical conditions or new symptoms that they are concerned about need to continue to seek medical advice," says senior
author Jason M. Nagata, MD, MSc, assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco's Department of Pediatrics. "As the pandemic continues, it remains vitally important that the public have accurate
and updated information on the risks and benefits of seeking medical
care." The study also found that symptoms of anxiety and depression
were overwhelmingly common among the sample. In the seven days prior to
the survey, 65% reported being nervous, anxious or on edge, 56% reported
not being able to stop or control worrying, 53% reported having little
interest or pleasure in doing things, and 52% reported feeling down,
depressed, or hopeless.

"More people are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression during
the pandemic, which can often be addressed through telepsychiatry and telemental health services. As a clinical social worker, I have seen how effective and accessible teletherapy can be in addressing these symptoms,"
says Dr. Ganson.

The study's authors say that their findings also have important
implications for clinical practice. "Medical professionals, social
workers, and clinicians need to proactively take steps to help clients
work through symptoms of anxiety and depression," Dr. Ganson says. "This
will help to improve the likelihood that they will seek the medical care
they need."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Toronto. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Kyle T. Ganson, Sheri D. Weiser, Alexander C. Tsai, Jason M. Nagata.

Associations between Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Medical
Care Avoidance during COVID-19. Journal of General Internal
Medicine, 2020; DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-06156-8 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200903075915.htm

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