# Impulsivity and Its Association with Depression and Anxiety in the Normal Egyptian Population Post COVID-19 Pandemic

## TL;DR

This study explores how impulsivity relates to depression and anxiety in Egypt's population after the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Contribution

It provides new insights into the psychological impact of the pandemic, particularly on impulsivity and mental health.

## Key findings

- 22% of participants had moderate to severe anxiety, and 26.7% had moderate to severe depression.
- Impulsivity, as measured by the UPPS-P scale, was significantly correlated with anxiety and depression scores.
- Positive COVID-19 infection was linked to higher functional impairment, especially in work/study domains.

## Abstract

Background and Objectives: It is well known that depression, anxiety, and impulsiveness are interrelated; however, studies that have assessed their association with the coronavirus outbreak are scarce. Hence, our study aimed to evaluate the impulsivity incidence and its correlation with anxiety and depression following COVID-19 infection between November 2022 and June 2023. Materials and Methods: The 201 participants completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and short UPPS-P scales (urgency, premeditation, perseverance, sensation seeking, and positive urgency) to allow us to determine their anxiety and depression symptoms, functional impairment, and impulsivity, respectively. Results: Among our respondents, 22%, and 26.7% had moderate to severe anxiety and depression. The short UPPS-P scale significantly correlated with the HAM-A and HDRS scales. Participants with positive COVID-19 infection showed significantly higher functional impairment scores, especially in the work/study domain (mean (SD): 3.12 (2.2) vs. 2.43 (2.3); p = 0.037). COVID-19-related disruption significantly correlated with negative and positive urgency, HAM-A, HDRS, and the SDS total and subscales. Conclusions: Our findings showed a notable increase in anxiety, depression, and functional impairment among the population following COVID-19 infection. Our research highlights the correlation between impulsivity and the psychological distress experienced following the pandemic.