STATISTICAL SURVEY OF DEPRESSION ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 RELATED ISOLATION AMONG MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL POPULATION IN LAHORE

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a mental disorder having impact on all age groups. According to the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), depression is defined as, “a mental condition characterized by severe feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy, typically accompanied by a lack of energy and interest in life”.

 Objective: The basic aim of the study is to find the correlation of depression associated with CoViD-19 related isolation among medical and non-medical population in Lahore.

 Methodology: Our study is a prospective cross-sectional study, conducted among the medical and non-medical personnel in Punjab. We took it upon ourselves to conduct the study with a convenient sample size. The objective of the study was explained to the individuals and those who agreed to it were given the study survey. It was conducted in about 3 months starting from June 2023 to August 2023. The Raosoft sample size calculator was used for calculation of sample size for the study, by keeping a margin of error of 5%, 95% confidence interval, a population size of 40,000 and a 50% response distribution.

 Results: The survey results reveal a spectrum of emotional and behavioral responses to the CoViD-19 pandemic. Notably, a substantial portion of respondents express occasional fears of something bad happening (48%) and sometimes feel that others are better off (49%). This reflects heightened anxiety and perceived disparities among some individuals.

Conclusion: It is concluded that the survey presents the multifaceted impact of the CoViD-19 pandemic on individuals' mental health and behaviors. It underscores the urgency of addressing mental health challenges, with concerns about suicide and depression evident among respondents. The mixed perceptions of preventive measures highlight the need for clear and consistent public health communication.