The strong impact of the lockdown on the psyche emerges from 6.000 interviews conducted by Elma Research for Angelini Pharma in 6 European countries. Greater in Spain, Great Britain and Italy, where the incidence of COVID 19 was highest. Limited recourse to professionals and limited search for information: only 1 out of 4. Good awareness of the risk of psychological disorders: 3 out of 4 people recognize that they could be subject to this type of malaise. The main impact of psychological disorders is identified in the quality of life and in particular on the couple's life. Request from 3 out of 4 citizens for a greater commitment by the state to support patients. The stigma continues to connote these disorders: the majority think they are a cause of shame and embarrassment.

According to data from a research carried out by the Elma Research Institute in six European countries (France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Poland), on behalf of Angelini Pharma on the occasion of 10 October, the world day of mental health, the58% of citizens had symptoms of psychological disorders with a duration of more than 15 days during the lockdown. With spikes 63% in Italy, 63% in Great Britain and 69% in Spain, countries where the impact of COVID 19 was stronger, while the figure is less than 50% (47%) in Germany.

Several symptoms mentioned: insomnia, difficulty sleeping or waking up at night (European average 19%, Italy 20%); lack of energy or weakness (16% European average, 14% Italy); sadness or desire to cry (15% European average, 18% in Italy); excessive fears and fears (14% European average, 17% Italy), lack of interest or pleasure in doing things (14% European average, 13% Italy); panic and anxiety attacks (10% European average, 10% Italy 10%). 

The majority of European citizens report having had at least two of these symptoms (61%); in Italy 67%; 50% of the Italian sample claims to have had these symptoms for the first time (European average 46%), while 33% claims to have had a worsening of pre-existing symptoms (European average 39%).

How did people cope with this parallel epidemic of psychological disorders? For the majority sharing concerns with the closest partner, family and friends (54% European average, 51% in Italy), while only a minority has resorted to a professional help figure: general practitioner (European average 18%, Italy 17%), psychologist (European average 11%, Italy 11%), psychiatrist (European average 9%, Italy 6%). Involvement limited to professionals may also depend on the restrictive measures in place at the time of the lockdown.

An unexpected result of the research concerns the behavior of people with respect to information.  Although psychological disorders were widespread, however, only 1 in 4 people sought information on the mental health issue linked to COVID 19(26% European average) - with the exception of Italy (35%) and Spain (38%) where the percentages are higher. People searched for information above all on the internet (65% European average of those who activated in the search for information, Italy 64%) followed by television (18% European average, Italy 15%) and by the general practitioner (18% average European, Italy 18%). It is always worth noting that these numbers refer to an emergency situation in which access to the general practitioner and other care professionals was severely limited.

"These data confirm that the lockdown was an experience that significantly affected people's mental health. Especially in some countries like Italy - commented Agnes Cattaneo, Global Chief Medical Officer of Angelini Pharma. "People cannot be left alone; conditions must be favored - still too limited not only in the lockdown - for recourse to professionals, from general practitioners to psychologists and psychiatrists. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to provide information on the subject and to combat the aura of prejudices that still exist surrounds these disturbances ”.  

Finally, people's perceptions of mental disorders. Comparing with other diseases, the interviews show that cancer is the most feared disease (European average 66%, Italy 68%) by the majority of people. But as far as impact is concerned, cancers are perceived as little more serious than psychological disorders (46% vs.37% European average; Italy 46%, 35%). The most feared impact is on the quality of life (74% European average). The most feared impact by the vast majority of the sample is on the quality of life (74% European average) and in particular on married life (71% European average). 

People have developed - perhaps also as a consequence of the pandemic - a high awareness of the risk of mental disorders: 76% (European average, Italy 71%) admit that everyone including themselves could have this type of malaise. Consequently, there is a strong demand for the state to do more to support citizens (European average 76%, Italy 77%). And more than half of the sample recognizes (64% European average; 64% Italy) that mental disorders are a source of discrimination and marginalization. Opinion on the statement that mental disorders cause shame and embarrassment: at the European level there is still a majority (51% European average, 57% Italy), while only a third in Great Britain (34%) and Poland (33%). A sign that in other countries, including Italy, there is still much to be done to combat the stigma that characterizes mental problems. 

The research was carried out in September on a representative sample of the population of 6 countries (France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Poland), with online interviews using the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interviewing) method. A sample of 1.000 subjects was interviewed for each country. The sample is representative from the point of view of gender, geographical area, and age (19-70 years). 

CoViD-19: 65% of Italians with psychological disorders