Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in Germany

Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

“…During the pandemic, the overall prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder and depression increased among the general population in many countries [ 35 ]. In Germany, prevalence rates of generalized anxiety (depressive symptoms) were observed between 22 and 24% (33 and 34%) during the second lockdown period from December 2020 to March 2021 [ 36 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Living with Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplantation During COVID-19: A Study of Psychological and Behavioral Impacts

Jäger

¹

,

Reick

²

,

Beckord

³

et al. 2025

Healthcare

Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

Journal of Public Health Research

“…Seven longitudinal studies examined the relationship between subjective financial worry due to COVID-19 and mental health. 1,57,[60][61][62][63] All found positive associations between COVID-19-related financial stress and worse mental health, including depression, anxiety, and global mental health. Hertz-Palmor et al 57 demonstrated a positive association between financial worries and depression.…”

Section: Specific Samples (N = 3)mentioning

confidence: 94%

The relationship between financial disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Richardson

¹

,

Ashworth

²

,

Sood

³

et al. 2025

Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

“…Current state of research demonstrated that longitudinal analyses of changes in isolation perceptions during the pandemic have generally focused on loneliness in the adult general population rather than work-related isolation. These studies were conducted at different time points: before and during the pandemic ( Bu et al, 2020 ; Entringer and Kröger, 2020 ; Hettich et al, 2022 ), at the beginning ( Buecker et al, 2020 ; Killgore et al, 2020 ; Luchetti et al, 2020 ), and in the course of the pandemic ( Caro et al, 2022 ; Benke et al, 2023 ; Weber et al, 2023 ). The methodology and results of studies were mixed: most reported an increase in loneliness (e.g., Hettich et al, 2022 ; Benke et al, 2023 ), whilst others found both increases and decreases (e.g., Bu et al, 2020 ; Buecker et al, 2020 ), and some noted a decrease ( Weber et al, 2023 ) or stable values ( Caro et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies were conducted at different time points: before and during the pandemic ( Bu et al, 2020 ; Entringer and Kröger, 2020 ; Hettich et al, 2022 ), at the beginning ( Buecker et al, 2020 ; Killgore et al, 2020 ; Luchetti et al, 2020 ), and in the course of the pandemic ( Caro et al, 2022 ; Benke et al, 2023 ; Weber et al, 2023 ). The methodology and results of studies were mixed: most reported an increase in loneliness (e.g., Hettich et al, 2022 ; Benke et al, 2023 ), whilst others found both increases and decreases (e.g., Bu et al, 2020 ; Buecker et al, 2020 ), and some noted a decrease ( Weber et al, 2023 ) or stable values ( Caro et al, 2022 ). None of those studies examined slopes of trajectories of isolation perceptions or loneliness over time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When do employees feel isolated when working from home? Longitudinal trajectories, antecedents and outcomes of workplace isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Efimov

¹

,

Krick

²

,

Harth

³

et al. 2025

Front. Psychol.

Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.