Hopes and fears: emerging adults in mood and anxiety disorder treatment predict outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Active patients at The First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP) were asked to participate in a study monitoring their symptoms during early COVID-19 closures. Participants were asked to predict both possible positive and feared outcomes of the pandemic. Responses were analyzed with a descriptive qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Primary feared outcomes included death, prolonged pandemic impacts, and concerns about employment, mental health, and education. Prevalent positive predictions included a new perspective, improved relationships, personal growth, and environmental improvement. These findings suggest the complex relationship between fear and hope for young people in the early stages of the pandemic.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• emerging adults
• adolescence
• early intervention
• mood disorders
• depression
• anxiety disorders

Acknowledgments

The FEMAP Team includes: Elizabeth Osuch, Michelle Ngo, James Ross, Sarah Armstrong, Nicola McHale, Jonathan Gregory, Jennifer DelaPaz, Raquel Lopez, Ellen Annett, Pamela Dash, Michael Wammes, Jazzmin Demy, and Chlöe Carter.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Dr. Osuch has received an independent research award from Pfizer pharmaceuticals, unrelated to the research presented here. This project was supported by the Lawson Health Research Institute, the University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry the London Health Sciences Foundation, the London Health Sciences Centre and the St. Joseph’s Health Care System. The funders played no role in study design, writing of this manuscript or the decision to submit for publication. This publication was supported by NIH/NCRR Colorado CTSI Grant Number UL1 RR025780 due to its use of REDCap data collection and management software;Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry