AUTHOR=Bracone Francesca , Gialluisi Alessandro , Costanzo Simona , Di Castelnuovo Augusto , Persichillo Mariarosaria , Olivieri Marco , Cerletti Chiara , Donati Maria Benedetta , de Gaetano Giovanni , Iacoviello Licia , Bonaccio Marialaura 

TITLE=Retrospective Recall of Psychological Distress Experienced During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: Results From the ALT RISCOVID-19 Survey

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 67 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604345

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604345

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objectives: To estimate psychological distress experienced during the Italian lockdown (March-May, 2020) by assessing, in the transition period of the pandemic (June-September, 2020),
participants’ recalling of their psychological state.
Methods: Cross-sectional analysis on 1,880 adults (mean age 48.9±14.5 y) from the web-based ALT RISCOVID-19 survey. Participants were asked to retrospectively recall their psychological state during lockdown concerning depression (Patients’ Health Questionnaire), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder), stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and post-traumatic stress (Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health). 
Results: Experienced depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress was recalled by 15.8%, 15.3% and 13.1% of respondents, respectively. These psychometric scales tended to decrease during the four-month period of assessment (p<0.05), while perceived stress levels did not (p=0.13).
Men and older individuals reported lower depression (β=-0.42 and β=-0.42; p<0.0001, respectively), anxiety (β=-0.41 and β=-0.45; p<0.0001, respectively), stress (β=-0.36 and β=0.50; p<0.0001, respectively) and post-traumatic stress (β=-0.42; p<0.0001, men vs women). 
Conclusions: Recalled psychological distress experienced during COVID-19 lockdown tended to decrease during the transition period of the pandemic, except for stress. Women and younger people were at higher risk to recall psychological distress.