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NORDSCI Conference proceedings 2023, Book 1, Volume 6

SOCIOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE

ONLINE SURVEY ABOUT DEPRESSION AND E-PSYCHOTHERAPY IN KOSOVO DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naim Fanaj, Prof. ass. Sevim Mustafa, Dr. Arlinda Cerga Pashoja, Prof. Gentiana Qirjako

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 outbreak hit also Kosovo. Experts around the globe call for research and action in mental health field. Kosovo as one LMI country in Europe adapted its responses to those recommended in other countries affected by pandemics. The aim of this study was to understand the level of depression as a result of the COVID-19 situation, possible associations with sociodemographic variables and expectations regarding the e-psychotherapy. It’s a cross-sectional study. The participants were 198 respondents recruited online in the period 20.03.20 until 23.04.20, who completed the Albanian version of PHQ-9. Mean score of depression resulted 9.46 (DS = 7.51). 65.2% of participants agreed that the situation has worsened their psychological state; 42.4% had a mild to severe form of depression and 25.3% had minimal symptoms. 18.7% of participants saw iCBT as helpful, 19.7% a little while 58.1% wanted to try it. Significantly higher depression resulted for females and participants with depression diagnosis before. The higher levels of depression correlated significantly with higher expectations of iCBT. Gender, age, education, marital status, previously diagnosed with depression, previously treated with depression and perception of worsened psychological state showed predictive abilities for depression. The situation with Covid-19 has increased depression levels and thus expectations for e-psychotherapy. There is a need to give more space to online treatments. Further studies are needed to better scientifically elaborate these findings.

KEYWORDS

COVID-19, depression, PHQ-9, e-psychotherapy, Kosovo

REFERENCE

NORDSCI Conference proceedings 2023, Book 1, Volume 6, ISSN 2603-4107, ISBN 978-619-7495-33-1, DOI 10.32008/NORDSCI2023/B1/V6/29,317 - 325 pp

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