Prevalence of depression and anxiety among general population in Pakistan during COVID-19 lockdown: An online-survey.

The present study's aim is to find the prevalence of two of the common indicators of mental health - depression and anxiety - and any correlation with socio-demographic indicators in the Pakistani population during the lockdown from 5 May to 25 July 2020. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire sent to volunteer participants. A total of 1047 participants over 18 were recruited through convenience sampling. The survey targeted depression and anxiety levels, which were measured using a 14 item self-reporting Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Out of the total sample population ( N =354), 39.9% suffered from depression and 57.7% from anxiety. Binary logistical regressions indicated significant predictive associations of gender ( OR=1.410 ), education ( OR=9.311 ), residence ( OR=0.370 ), household income ( OR=0.579 ), previous psychiatric problems ( OR=1.671 ), and previous psychiatric medication (OR=2.641) . These were the key factors e associated with a significant increase in depression. Increases in anxiety levels were significantly linked to gender ( OR=2.427 ), residence ( OR=0.619 ), previous psychiatric problems ( OR=1.166 ), and previous psychiatric medication ( OR=7.330 ). These results suggest depression and anxiety were prevalent among the Pakistani population during the lockdown. Along with other measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, citizens' mental health needs the Pakistani government's urgent attention as well as that of mental health experts. Further large-scale, such as healthcare practitioners, should be undertaken to identify other mental health indicators that need to be monitored.