Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety among General Population during COVID-19 Second Wave in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had serious impact on people's mental health in the 21st century. Mental disorders have influenced economically on the society and have a dramatic effect on families too. This study aims to assess the effects of COVID-19 on psychological outcomes of pandemic and its associated risk factors on the general population of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by distributing the questionnaires electronically in Saudi Arabia from 1st March 20 21 to 130thApril, 20 2 2. PHQ-9, GAD-7 and PSQ-130 were used to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety among population. A total of 1513 2 participants completed the study. Results: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 25.1%, 4 2 .5%, and 68.48%, respectively. Significant predictors were Saudi nationals, young and single participants, less earning and respondents with no children. The mean depression score was significantly higher in participants that had not been infected with COVID-19 and anyone who is not living with an infected person had scored significantly. Conclusion: In this study, we disclosed a high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. In conclusion, COVID-19 is an epidemiological crisis that is casting a shadow on vulnerable population. Appropriate knowledge and specialized interventions must be accessible to promote the psychological health of the Saudi population.