Symptoms of anxiety and depression and self-care behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population

espanolIntroduccion: La pandemia por COVID-19 puede tener consecuencias psicosociales importantes en la poblacion. Objetivo: Determinar los niveles de sintomas de ansiedad, depresion y conductas de autocuidado durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en poblacion general. Metodo: Encuesta en linea distribuida durante tres semanas mediante muestreo no probabilistico. Se empleo el Cuestionario sobre la Salud del Paciente PHQ-9, la Escala del Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada GAD-7 y la Escala analoga visual de conductas de autocuidado. Se realizaron analisis descriptivos y de comparacion entre los grupos con ansiedad y depresion. Resultados: Se incluyeron 1508 participantes, 20.8 % presento sintomas de ansiedad grave y 27.5 %, sintomas de depresion grave. Ser mujer, soltero(a) no tener hijos, presentar comorbilidad medica y antecedentes de atencion a la salud mental estuvieron relacionados con la presencia de mayores niveles de sintomas de ansiedad y depresion; 66 a 80 % de la poblacion cumplia con las recomendaciones de autocuidado. Se identifico la necesidad de recibir atencion de salud mental. Conclusion: Se observo mayor numero de individuos con sintomas de ansiedad y depresion moderadas a graves que en otras pandemias. Los efectos psicologicos de la pandemia de COVID-19 se consideran un problema de salud mental publica emergente, por lo que se recomienda la implementacion de programas para su atencion. EnglishIntroduction: The COVID-19 pandemic can have important psychosocial consequences in the population. Objective: To determine the levels of anxiety, depression and self-care symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population. Method: Online survey distributed over three weeks using a non-probability sampling. The PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire, the GAD-7 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Visual analog scale for self-care behaviors were used. Between-group (anxiety and depression) descriptive and comparison analyses were carried out. Results: Out of 1508 included participants, 20.8% had symptoms of severe anxiety, while 27.5% showed symptoms of severe depression. Being a woman, being single, having no children, having medical comorbidities and a history of mental health care were risk factors for developing symptoms of anxiety and depression; 66 to 80 % of the population complied with self-care recommendations. A need for receiving mental health care was identified in our study population. Conclusion: A larger number of individuals with moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms were observed than in other pandemics. COVID-19 pandemic psychological effects are considered an emerging public health problem, and implementation of programs for their care is therefore recommended.