Survey of the Anxiety Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study aims to systematically examine various aspects of the anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. The data collection is carried out online with longitudinal repeated measurements.

Detailed Description
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The COVID-19 pandemic is currently one of the greatest challenges for numerous countries - also for Germany. In addition to its somatic and economic consequences, the psychological dimension of the Coronavirus pandemic is discussed increasingly and is visible in public life - e.g. in the pandemic-caused experience of threat, loss of control and panic of multiple people. The study examines the phenomenon of this corona-related anxiety in terms of epidemiological, clinical and psychosocial characteristics. It is investigated how corona anxiety affects people who already have an anxiety disorder or other mental illnesses as well as formerly mentally healthy people. It is also examined how media reporting and personal consequences of COVID-19 are connected with corona-related anxiety and if there is a need for therapeutic support regarding corona-related anxiety. To answer these questions a longitudinal online survey targeting the general population in Germany is carried out. The survey takes place all three weeks as long as the pandemic lasts and ends with one follow-up one year later.

Official Title
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Online-based Survey of the Anxiety Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic in the General Population in Germany

Conditions
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Anxiety Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Online Questionnaire


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: informed consent was given age ≥ 18 able to complete the questionnaire in German country of residence: Germany Exclusion Criteria: if at least one of the inclusion criteria is not met

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Population in Germany<br>Reasonably large and representative sample of the general population in Germany | Diagnostic Test: Online Questionnaire<br>* Online Questionnaire via SoSci Survey<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Characteristics of COVID-19-related anxiety | To investigate specific fears regarding the COVID-19 pandemic 9 self created items are used. Values ranging from 1 to 6, higher scores indicate a worse outcome. | 1 day | 
| COVID-19-related anxiety symptoms | Modified German version of the DSM-5 Severity-Measure-For-Specific-Phobia-Adult-Scale by Beesdo-Baum et al. (2014). 10 items, values ranging from 1 to 5, higher scores indicate a worse outcome. The Scale was adapted to anxiety symptoms related to COVID-19. | 1 day | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self-efficacy and coping with COVID-19 | Self-efficacy and coping with the COVID-19 pandemic are measured with 13 self created items. Values ranging from 1 to 6; higher scores indicate a better outcome (except inverted items). | baseline (1 day) + after 3 weeks + after 6 weeks + after 9 weeks + after 6 months + after 7 months + after 9 months + after 12 months | 
| Consequences of COVID-19 in the last three weeks. | Personal consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the last three weeks are collected with five self-created items. | baseline (1 day) + after 3 weeks + after 6 weeks + after 9 weeks + after 6 months + after 7 months + after 9 months + after 12 months | 
| General Illness Attitude | General illness attitudes are measured with 3 subscales (Worry about illness; Thanatophobia; Bodily preoccupations) of the German version of the Illness Attitude Scales (IAS) by Hiller & Rief (2004). 9 Items; values ranging from 1 to 5, higher scores indicate a worse outcome. | baseline (1 day) + after 3 weeks + after 6 weeks + after 9 weeks + after 6 months + after 7 months + after 9 months + after 12 months | 
| Media reporting | Frequency, effects and formats of consumed media related to COVID-19 are measured with 5 self created items. | baseline (1 day) + after 3 weeks + after 6 weeks + after 9 weeks + after 6 months + after 7 months + after 9 months + after 12 months | 
| Ultra-brief screening scale for anxiety and depression | To screen for general anxiety and depressive symptoms the German version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) by Löwe (2015) is used. 4 items; values ranging from 0 to 3, higher scores indicate a worse outcome. | baseline (1 day) + after 3 weeks + after 6 weeks + after 9 weeks + after 6 months + after 7 months + after 9 months + after 12 months | 
| Change in characteristics of COVID-19-related anxiety | To investigate specific fears regarding the COVID-19 pandemic 9 self created items are used. Values ranging from 1 to 6, higher scores indicate a worse outcome. | baseline (1 day) + after 3 weeks + after 6 weeks + after 9 weeks + after 6 months + after 7 months + after 9 months + after 12 months | 
| Change in COVID-19-related anxiety symptoms | Modified German version of the DSM-5 Severity-Measure-For-Specific-Phobia-Adult-Scale by Beesdo-Baum et al. (2014). 10 items, values ranging from 1 to 5, higher scores indicate a worse outcome. The Scale was adapted to anxiety symptoms related to COVID-19. | baseline (1 day) + after 3 weeks + after 6 weeks + after 9 weeks + after 6 months + after 7 months + after 9 months + after 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Anxiety, Pandemic, Corona-Virus, SARS-CoV-2, Corona, Covid-19, Public Health, Mental Health, Health, Mental Disorders