THE DYNAMICS OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND SUICIDAL IDEATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN RUSSIA

The COVID-19 pandemic may bear serious consequences for mental health, such as the increase in psychopathological symptoms, including suicidal ideation and autoaggressive actions. In our study, depressive symptoms and suicidality were viewed as two separate characteristics, which, during the pandemic, may be influenced by different factors. Study objective: analysis of the increase in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. Materials and methods. The materials for the study were the data from an anonymous internet survey, conducted during the period of March, 22 - June, 22, 2020. The survey included information on sociodemographic indicators and questions on how respondents assess their conditions during the pandemic; there was also a question on whether they were recently bothered by the thoughts of killing themselves. The following questionnaires were used: Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the COPE Inventory. Statistical processing was performed with the SPSS program. Results: Nine hundred eight responses were received. The analysis showed a statistically significant positive correlation between the intensity of suicidal thoughts and severity of depressive symptoms according to the SCL-90-R (Spearman's coefficient 0.45; p<0.001). The analysis found a statistically significant growth trend in depressive symptoms as the pandemic progressed (Jonckheere - Terpstra test, Std. J-T stat. = 2.51, p = 0.012), and the increase in frequency of suicidal thoughts that were expressed as 'strong' and 'very strong' in the last period of time (Fisher's Exact Test, 5.92, p = 0.046). The correlation analysis showed that the severity of depression is higher in women and younger respondents, and statistically significantly associated with the current situation of the pandemic: it is increased with the emergence of the virus in the city of residence, with the contraction of disease among friends, with increasing fears of getting sick and die, with the presence of various somatic diseases in respondents, and the number of methods used for protection from the infection. The intensity of suicidal ideation was not associated with the risk of contagion, with the presence of ill persons among the close others, with the fears for the self and close others, but was linked to the higher proneness to risk, was higher in males and younger respondents. Along with that, the severity of depressive symptoms was linked to the higher level of search for emotional, social and instrumental help as a coping strategy. With the growing frequency of suicidal thoughts, the acceptance and planning deteriorated. Conclusions: The increase in depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts is determined by different factors. The increase in depressive symptoms is associated with various fears and mediated by non-constructive ways of coping with stress. But there are also constructive coping-strategies present, such as the search for help. The intensity of suicidal thoughts increases during the COVID-19 pandemic and is associated with the higher levels of stress, which cannot be explained by the 'objective' threat of contagion and fears for own life or lives of significant others, but is experienced as an 'indefinite' anxiety, supposedly linked to the measures to counter the pandemic, such as the restrictions on social interactions, loneliness, uncertainty. The increase in indices of depressive symptoms is linked with the orientation to another person, while the severity of suicidal ideation has no correlation with that.