Mental health and psychological responses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic: A comparison between Wuhan and other areas in China.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the mental health and psychological responses in Wuhan, a severely affected area, and other areas of China, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted during February 10-20, 2020. A set of online questionnaires was employed to measure mental health and responses. 1,397 participants from Wuhan (age: 36.4 ± 10.7; male: 36.1%) and 2,794 age- and sex-matched participants from other areas of China (age: 35.9 ± 9.9; male: 39.0%) were recruited. RESULTS: Compared with their counterparts, participants from Wuhan had significantly higher prevalence of any mental health problems (46.6% vs. 32.2%; adjusted OR=1.89, 95%CI=1.65-2.17), anxiety (15.2% vs. 6.2%; adjusted OR=2.65, 95%CI=2.14-3.29), depression (18.3% vs. 9.7%; adjusted OR = 2.11, 95%CI=1.74-2.54), suicidal ideation (10.5% vs. 7.1%; adjusted OR=1.60, 95%CI=1.28-2.02), and insomnia (38.6% vs. 27.6%; adjusted OR=1.70, 95%CI=1.48-1.96). Participants from Wuhan had a slightly higher rate of help-seeking behavior (7.1% vs. 4.2%, adjusted OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.12-2.77) but similar rate of treatment (3.5% vs. 2.7%, adjusted OR = 1.23, 95% CI=0.68-2.24) for mental problems than their counterparts. In addition, compared with their counterparts, participants from Wuhan gave higher proportions of responses regarding "fearful" (52% vs. 36%, P < .001), "discrimination against COVID-19 cases" (64% vs. 58%, P = .006), "strictly comply with preventive behaviors" (98.7% vs. 96%, P =.003), and "fewer living and medical supplies" (<2 weeks: 62% vs. 57%, P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 epidemic has raised enormous challenges regarding public mental health and psychological responses, especially in the highly affected Wuhan area. The present findings provide important information for developing appropriate strategies for the prevention and management of mental health problems during COVID-19 and other epidemics.