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Croatian Medical Journal, Vol. 63 No. 5, 2022.

Original scientific paper

The association between fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety, and psychosis among Lebanese chronic patients with schizophrenia: any moderating effect of spirituality?

Zeinab Bitar ; Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Fanar, Lebanon
Chadia Haddad ; Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon
Sahar Obeid ; Social and Education Sciences Department, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Jbeil, Lebanon
Souheil Hallit ; Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon

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Abstract

Aim To assess whether fear of coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) is associated with depression, anxiety, and psychosis and to evaluate if these variables are correlated with
the interaction between spirituality and fear of COVID-19.
Methods Between September and November 2020, this
cross-sectional study enrolled 118 chronic schizophrenia patients. The interview with patients included Fear of
COVID-19 Scale, Lebanese Anxiety Scale-10, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Positive and Negative
Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and Functional Assessment of
Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being-12. The results
were analyzed by using linear regressions (Enter method),
with anxiety, depression, total PANSS score, positive PANSS,
negative PANSS, and general psychopathology PANSS subscales as dependent variables. Spirituality, fear of COVID19, and the interaction of spirituality with fear of COVID-19
were independents variables.
Results Fear of COVID-19 was positively correlated with
increased total PANSS scores (Beta=0.90, P=0.030). Higher spirituality was significantly associated with lower anxiety (Beta=-0.14, P=0.009), lower depression (Beta=-0.21,
P=0.001), lower total PANSS score (Beta=-0.90, P=0.004),
lower negative PANSS score (Beta=-0.23, P=0.009), and
lower general psychopathology PANSS score (Beta=-0.61,
P=0.001). In patients with high fear of COVID-19, having
low spirituality was significantly associated with higher
anxiety, depression, and psychotic symptoms.
Conclusion This study suggests a positive correlation between fear of COVID-19 and higher psychosis among inpatients with schizophrenia. The interaction of spirituality
with fear of COVID-19 was correlated with reduced anxiety,
depression, and psychosis.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

306820

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/306820

Publication date:

13.10.2022.

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