Generalized Anxiety Disorder During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Iran: The Role of Social Dysfunction

• Published in: The journal of nervous and mental disease Vol. 209; no. 7; pp. 491 - 496
• Main Authors: Zakeri, Mohammad Ali, Hossini Rafsanjanipoor, Sayed Mortaza, Kahnooji, Mahmood, Ghaedi Heidari, Fatemeh, Dehghan, Mahlagha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-07-2021
• ISSN: 0022-3018; 1539-736X
• DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001320

The COVID-19 epidemic has both physical and psychosocial consequences for the general population. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social dysfunction during the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran. This cross-sectional web-based study was conducted on 1000 Rafsanjani citizens in southeastern Iran. Data were collected by using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the General Health Questionnaire from March 15 to March 30, 2020. The prevalence of GAD was 27.8%. The mean score of social functioning was 9.71 ± 2.66, and all participants had social dysfunction. Multivariate logistic regression test showed a significant correlation between anxiety and social functioning (confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.30; p < 0.001), sex (CI, 1.49-3.04; p < 0.001), and concern about COVID-19 (CI, 1.38-2.73; p < 0.001). The COVID-19 epidemic had negative psychosocial consequences in the general population in Iran.