AUTHOR=Liu Shuang , Han Wei , Shen Chenyu , Zhu Changju , Wang Qiaofang , Liang Xianquan , He Xiangxi , Xie Qin , Wei Jie , Wu Miao , Zhao Xiaodong , Liu Hongsheng , Liu Danping , Guo Xiaowang , Nie Shinan , Cao Liping , Lu Linxin , Fang Yaqin , Lu Zhongqiu , Wu Yixu , Zhao Min , Han Jun , Zhang Xinchao , Chang Jie , Xu Shuogui , Ma Wenjie , Si Junli , Qi Suxia , Peng Peng , Chai Yage , Cao Yu , Jiang Yaowen , Yin Wen , Wang Yanjun , Zhan Hong , Huang Yingxiong , Deng Ying , Song Juanjuan , Yang Lishan , Wu Jiali , Ding Banghan , Zheng Danwen , Qian Chuanyun , Huang Rui , Lin Jiyan , Xu Zhihong , Zhang Guoxiu , Hu Yingying , Dou Qingli , Zhang Xiaoming , Tian Yingping , Yao Dongqi , Walline Joseph Harold , Zhu Huadong , Xu Jun , Li Yi , Yu Xuezhong 

TITLE=Depressive State in the Emergency Department During COVID-19: A National Cross-Sectional Survey in China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.566990

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.566990

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Chinese emergency medical staff encountered significant mental stress in fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We sought to investigate the prevalence and associated factors for depressive symptoms among this group. A cross-sectional national survey of general emergency medical staff who were on duty and participated in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic work was conducted from March 1-15, 2020. A total of 6588 emergency medical staffs from 1060 hospitals responded to the survey. Chinese emergency medical staff did experience depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 period, particularly those aged 31-45, those working in the COVID-19 isolation unit, and those living with those ≤ 16 or ≥ 70 years old. These results detail the prevalence and associations of depressive symptoms among Chinese emergency medical staff and reinforce the importance of targeted staff support during COVID-19 or future outbreaks.