1. Introduction
COVID-19 is an infectious disease with symptoms ranging from flu-like symptoms to severe respiratory distress. It is caused by a mutating virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Most infected people will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover shortly afterward. Unfortunately, those who suffer a serious form of the disease are more at risk of dying due to complications from the disease. Notably, all age groups can contract coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and face severe consequences, such as death. Hence, it is important to follow the precautionary guidelines to protect us from contracting the disease. Some countries enforced a lockdown to further prevent the spread of the virus .
The worldwide crisis that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to hospitalization and increased death rates , and several regulations were imposed, such as social distancing measures, self-quarantine, and isolation, which led to negative consequences for mental health and the appearance of depressive symptoms.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V), major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by symptoms of either depressed mood throughout the day or loss of interest in routine activities. Either one of these two symptoms must be present along with the other 4 symptoms for a minimum of 2 weeks to clinically diagnose an individual with major depressive disorder. Other symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep disturbance, suicidal ideation, and poor concentration. These symptoms must be present nearly every day to qualify for a diagnosis . Several studies across the UAE aimed to identify the prevalence of depression before the COVID-19 pandemic, including two in Sharjah , two in Al Ain and one in Dubai , with a prevalence rate ranging from 12.5-28.6%. Accordingly, research exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health commenced with several views supporting the deleterious effect this pandemic created, from the anxiety of testing positive to the grief of losing someone due to infection . According to a meta-analysis conducted in China that investigated the prevalence of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall prevalences of depression, anxiety, distress, and insomnia were 31.4%, 31.9%, 41.1%, and 37.9%, respectively . These studies reflect the consequences of this pandemic on the mental health of people worldwide.
There are few studies discussing the prevalence of depression in the UAE population, and we have barely managed to find a study that had a similar aim; however, they utilized different tools and methods to analyze their data
Several factors contribute to the need for such a study in the UAE. Mental health is an important aspect of public health; for that reason, identifying mental health prevalence can help healthcare providers allocate appropriate resources to address mental health needs. Additionally, each country may experience different effects of the pandemic according to government responses and healthcare infrastructure; thus, the prevalence of depression can also reflect how the pandemic has uniquely impacted the adult population of the UAE. Essentially, appropriate mental health measures and interventions must be tailored to the needs of the UAE population .
We aimed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adults living in the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic.