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Cited by 140COVID-19 and Mental HealthAging, Health, and DisabilityMental Health Treatment and Access

Experiences of American older adults with pre-existing depression during the beginnings of the covid-19 pandemic: A multicity, mixed-methods study.

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Hamm, Megan E., Brown, Patrick J., Karp, Jordan F., Lenard, Emily, Cameron, Flor, Dawdani, Alicia, Lavretsky, Helen, Miller, J. Philip +5 more·2020·The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
DOI 10.1016/j.jagp.2020.06.013PMC PMC7305766
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Abstract

Objective To determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of older adults with pre-existing major depressive disorder (MDD).Participants Participants were 73 community-living older adults with pre-existing MDD (mean age 69 [SD 6]) in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, and St Louis.Design and measurements During the first 2 months of the pandemic, the authors interviewed participants with a semistructured qualitative interview evaluating access to care, mental health, quality of life, and coping. The authors also assessed depression, anxiety, and suicidality with validated scales and compared scores before and during the pandemic.Results Five themes from the interviews highlight the experience of older adults with MDD: 1) They are more concerned about the risk of contracting the virus than the risks of isolation. 2) They exhibit resilience to the stress and isolation of physical distancing. 3) Most are not isolated socially, with virtual contact with friends and family. 4) Their quality of life is lower, and they worry their mental health will suffer with continued physical distancing. 5) They are outraged by an inadequate governmental response to the pandemic. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation symptom scores did not differ from scores before the pandemic.Conclusion Most older adults with pre-existing MDD show resilience in the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic but have concerns about the future. Policies and interventions to provide access to medical services and opportunities for social interaction are needed to help to maintain mental health and quality of life as the pandemic continues.

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  • Neither Hamm et al. (2020) nor Hamza et al. (2021) found clear evidence of increased risk of suicidal ideation (older adults) or NSSI (students) during the pandemic.

    “Neither Hamm et al., 2020 (trial participants with depression aged >60years) nor Hamza et al., 2021 (students) found clear evidence of increased risk of suicidal ideation (older adults) or NSSI (students) during the pandemic.”

    From The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-harm and suicidal behaviour: update of living systematic review (2021) · cites this paper as Hamm et al., 2020

  • Six studies present repeat survey data, with measures recorded during, as well as before, the pandemic.

    “Six studies present repeat survey data, with measures recorded during, as well as before, the pandemic ( Hamm et al., 2020; Hamza et al., 2021; Raifman et al., 2020; Winkler et al., 2020; Wu et al., 2020b; Zhang et al., 2020).”

    From The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-harm and suicidal behaviour: update of living systematic review (2021) · cites this paper as Hamm et al., 2020

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  1. [18]Thompson M. How to form a COVID-19 social ‘bubble’ or ‘quaranteam’ with MIT Technology Review's Gideon Lichfield. [PBS Wesbsite] May 13, 2020. Available at: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-to-form-a-covid-19-social-bubble-or-quaranteam. Accessed June 2, 2020.

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Authors
Hamm, M. E., Brown, P. J., Karp, J. F., Lenard, E., Cameron, F., Dawdani, A., Lavretsky, H., Miller, J. P., Mulsant, B. H., Pham, V. T., Reynolds, C. F., Roose, S. P., & Lenze, E. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
Hamm, Megan E.
ORCID
Venue
The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-09
Volume
28
Issue
9
Pages
924-932
ISSN
1064-7481 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jagp.2020.06.013
PMC
PMC7305766
OpenAlex
W3036710506
Cited by
139
References
14
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 9
FWCI
11.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
University of Pittsburgh's Department of Psychiatry
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, older adults, major depressive disorder, mental health, social distancing, social isolation, resilience, quality of life, access to mental health care, anxiety, suicidal ideation, government pandemic response, community-dwelling older adults
MeSH terms
Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Aged, Anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Pneumonia, Viral, Quality of Life, United States, Comorbidity, Coronavirus Infections, Qualitative Research, Pandemics, Suicidal Ideation

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