Second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Argentinian population: vaccination is associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms

PEDRO BENEDETTI; VICTORIA REPPUCCI; JORGE HORACIO MEDINA; DIEGO MONCADA; ALEJO BARBUZZA; CELINA GOYENECHE; HAYDÉE VIOLA; FRANCO MOSCATO; CYNTHIA KATCHE; BALLARINI, FABRICIO

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Frontiers Media S.A.

Año: 2022

1664-0640

Background: Since the irruption of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) the planethas submerged in a time of concern and uncertainty, with a direct impact on people’smental health. Moreover, the recurrent outbreaks that periodically harry different regionsof the world constantly refocus people’s concerns to the pandemic. Yet, each newwave heats the diverse countries in different situations, including the advances in theirvaccination campaigns. In this research, we studied the levels of the general anxietydisorder (GAD) and depression in the Argentine population across the first and secondwaves of infections that occurred in our country.Methods: We conducted an on-line survey, within each peak of the pandemic. Peoplewere asked to self-report GAD and depression symptoms using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9questioners, inform their vaccination status, the frequency they performed physicalactivity as well as working condition and modality. Here, we identified the more vulnerablegroups and evaluated factors that could mitigate the rise of these mental disorders,focusing on vaccination.Results: Our data shows that reported GAD and depression levels were higher duringthe second wave than during the first one. More importantly, vaccinated people were lessdepressed than non-vaccinated people, while GAD levels remained equivalent in bothgroups. Other factors directly associated with lower GAD and depression levels wereperforming frequent physical activity and being employed, regardless of the employmentmodality. These observations were replicated in different age ranges and genders.Conclusion: This work evidences GAD and depression in different pandemic waves inArgentina, as well the factors that may contribute to reducing the magnitude of thesedisorders, including vaccination.