Opportunities to engage in positive activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives of individuals with mood disorders

Gordon-Smith, Katherine, Hampshire, Chloe, Mahoney, Berenice, Perry, Amy, Lewis, Katie J. S., Craddock, Nick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2171-0610, Jones, Ian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5821-5889 and Jones, Lisa 2024. Opportunities to engage in positive activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives of individuals with mood disorders. Journal of affective disorders 345 , pp. 186-191. 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.135

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Abstract

Background Despite cross-sectional population and clinical studies finding individuals with existing mood disorders being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, longitudinal studies have not shown a worsening of psychiatric symptoms. In response to these findings, we explored opportunities to engage in positive activities during the pandemic from the perspectives of individuals with mood disorders. Methods A bespoke survey, containing closed and open questions, was sent to participants with mood disorders who were part of the UK Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN). Questions related to experiences of positive impacts of the pandemic, levels of engagement in positive activities and coping strategies. Results Response rate was 46.4 % (N = 1688). 61.9 % reported positive life changes during the pandemic, with slower pace of life reported most frequently (52.8 %). 47.3 % reported no adverse impact of the pandemic on implementing their usual coping strategies. Activities that respondents most commonly reported the same or greater level of engagement in compared to before the pandemic were avoiding known mood triggers (82.3 %), relaxation techniques (78.8 %) and the ability to maintain set routines (69.4 %). Limitations Responder bias may be present and experiences during the pandemic are likely to differ among other clinical and research mood disorders cohorts. Conclusions Our findings may help to explain why longitudinal studies have not found a worsening of mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying potential facilitators to maintaining mental health have wider applicability, and may help to inform future evidence-based psychoeducation and self-management programmes for mood disorders.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0165-0327
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 March 2024
Date of Acceptance:	21 October 2023
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2024 10:05
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/166801

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