Abstract

Objective

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on suicidal thoughts and behavior has been widely hypothesized but remains largely unexplored at the population-level. We aimed to assess changes in suicide risk (SR) in people with and without mental disorders, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Czechia.

Methods

We analyzed data from three nationwide cross-sectional surveys of Czech adults (November 2017, May and November 2020). For the 2017 data collection, we employed paper and pencil interviewing, while for the two 2020 data collections, we used a mixed computer-assisted web interviewing and computer-assisted telephone interviewing approach. All samples were representative in terms of age, gender, education, and area of residence for the Czech adult population (18+). We used the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview to screen for mental disorders and SR. We calculated weighted prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results

When compared to baseline, we found a 4% and 6% increase in SR in individuals without mental disorders in pandemic surveys (1.95% (1.45%; 2.44%) vs. 6.29% (5.28%; 7.30%) and 8.42% (7.19%; 9.65%)). Relative to baseline, SR in people with major depressive episode or anxiety disorders was elevated in May and November 2020 (22.35% (17.64%; 27.06%) vs. 36.68% (32.45%; 40.91%) and 38.88% (34.51%; 43.25%)).

Conclusions

We found substantially increased SR in both people with and without mental disorders, however, these changes could be partially related to differing data collection methods used in the baseline and subsequent surveys. Ongoing prevention, monitoring and evaluation of nationwide suicidality is warranted.

• HIGHLIGHTS

• We found that suicide risk substantially increased during the pandemic

• Suicide risk was elevated in both individuals with and without mental disorders

• Our findings support increased suicide monitoring and prevention

中文翻译：

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在 COVID-19 大流行之前和期间患有和不患有精神疾病的个人的自杀风险：对捷克三项全国性横断面调查的分析

摘要

客观的

2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 大流行对自杀念头和行为的影响已被广泛假设，但在人群层面上仍未得到充分探索。我们的目的是评估捷克 COVID-19 大流行之前和期间患有和不患有精神障碍的人的自杀风险 (SR) 的变化。

方法

我们分析了对捷克成年人进行的三项全国性横断面调查（2017 年 11 月、2020 年 5 月和 2020 年 11 月）的数据。对于 2017 年的数据收集，我们采用了纸笔访谈，而对于 2020 年的两次数据收集，我们使用了计算机辅助网络访谈和计算机辅助电话访谈的混合方法。所有样本在捷克成年人口（18 岁以上）的年龄、性别、教育程度和居住区方面都具有代表性。我们使用 Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 来筛查精神障碍和 SR。我们使用 95% 置信区间 (95% CI) 计算加权患病率。

结果

与基线相比，我们发现在大流行调查中没有精神障碍的个体的 SR 增加了 4% 和 6%（1.95%（1.45%；2.44%）对 6.29%（5.28%；7.30%）和 8.42%（7.19 %；9.65%）。与基线相比，2020 年 5 月和 2020 年 11 月，重度抑郁发作或焦虑症患者的 SR 升高（22.35%（17.64%；27.06%）对比 36.68%（32.45%；40.91%）和 38.88%（34.51%；43.25 %).

结论

我们发现有精神障碍和没有精神障碍的人的 SR 都显着增加，但是，这些变化可能部分与基线和后续调查中使用的不同数据收集方法有关。有必要对全国范围内的自杀行为进行持续的预防、监测和评估。

• 强调

• 我们发现在大流行期间自杀风险大大增加

• 有和没有精神障碍的人的自杀风险都升高了

• 我们的研究结果支持加强自杀监测和预防