Depression and Anxiety in Hong Kong during COVID-19

TLDR

Since the first COVID‑19 case in Hong Kong three months ago, the pandemic’s scope is clearer and psychological support is needed. The study aimed to assess depression and anxiety among Hong Kong residents during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Participants were randomly recruited and completed a structured questionnaire comprising PHQ‑9, GAD‑7, a global rating of change scale, and COVID‑19–related items. Among 500 respondents, 19% had depression and 14% had anxiety, 25.4% reported worsening mental health, and factors such as lack of mask supply, inability to work from home, and fear of infection were linked to poorer mental health.

Abstract

It has been three months since the first confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong, and people now have a more complete picture of the extent of the pandemic. Therefore, it is time to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health. The current population-based study aimed to evaluate the depression and anxiety of people in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents were randomly recruited and asked to complete a structured questionnaire, including the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), the global rating of change scale and items related to COVID-19. Of the 500 respondents included in the study, 19% had depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10) and 14% had anxiety (GAD score ≥ 10). In addition, 25.4% reported that their mental health had deteriorated since the pandemic. Multiple logistic regression analysis found that not experiencing the SARS outbreak in 2003, being worried about being infected by COVID-19, being bothered by having not enough surgical masks and being bothered by not being able to work from home were associated with a poorer mental health status. Psychological support, such as brief, home-based psychological interventions, should be provided to citizens during the pandemic.