Mental health status of individuals with a mood-disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: Initial results from the COLLATE project

Tamsyn E Van Rheenen; Denny Meyer; Erica Neill; Andrea Phillipou; Eric J Tan; Wei Lin Toh; Susan L Rossell

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.037

Mental health status of individuals with a mood-disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: Initial results from the COLLATE project

J Affect Disord. 2020 Oct 1:275:69-77. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.037. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Authors

Tamsyn E Van Rheenen¹, Denny Meyer², Erica Neill³, Andrea Phillipou⁴, Eric J Tan⁵, Wei Lin Toh², Susan L Rossell⁵

Affiliations

¹ Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne, Level 3, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry St, Carlton, Victory 3053, Australia; Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victory, Australia. Electronic address: tamsyn.van@unimelb.edu.au.
² Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victory, Australia.
³ Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victory, Australia; Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victory, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victory, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victory, Australia; Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victory, Australia; Department of Mental Health, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Victory, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victory, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victory, Australia; Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victory, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Physical-distancing strategies during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may be particularly detrimental to the mental health of individuals with a pre-existing mood disorder. Data on the mental health status of these individuals during the current pandemic is sparse, and their current mental health needs unclear.

Method: We characterised COVID-19 related lifestyle changes, primary concerns and psychological distress in n=1292 respondents self-reporting a mood disorder (either bipolar disorder or depressive disorder) and n=3167 respondents without any reported mental disorder from the COLLATE (COvid-19 and you: mentaL heaLth in AusTralia now survEy) project; an Australian national survey launched on April 1^st 2020.

Results: Psychological distress was heightened in the mood disorder group compared to the group with no mental disorder, with stress and depression further elevated in respondents with bipolar disorder compared to those with depressive disorder; and men with bipolar disorder having even higher levels of depression than women with bipolar disorder. Respondents with bipolar disorder were particularly concerned about financial issues associated with COVID-19 compared to those with depressive disorder and those with no mental disorder. Adverse changes to lifestyle behaviours were more prevalent in respondents with a mood disorder and linked to higher levels of distress.

Limitations: Mood disorder was self-reported and was not clinically verified.

Conclusions: Current psychological distress levels are elevated in individuals with mood disorder and are associated with maladaptive situational and lifestyle changes occurring in response to COVID-19.

Keywords: Alcohol use; Bipolar disorder; Coronavirus; Exercise; Major depressive disorder; sleep.

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia / epidemiology
Bipolar Disorder
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Coronavirus Infections / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Health / statistics & numerical data*
Middle Aged
Mood Disorders / epidemiology*
Mood Disorders / psychology*
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
Pneumonia, Viral / psychology*
Prevalence
Psychotic Disorders
Self Report
Surveys and Questionnaires