Time perception and suicidal ideation during COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Chronopsychology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• COVID-19 lockdowns significantly disrupted subjective time perception.
• Previous reports indicate altered time perception during pandemic restrictions.
• The study focuses on subjective flow of time (SFT) and its link to suicidal ideation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of SFT in triggering suicidal ideation among patients with a history of suicide attempt (SA).
• To compare SFT in SA patients versus affective controls (AC) without a history of SA.
• To explore the influence of depression, insomnia, loneliness, and social support on the SFT-suicidal ideation relationship.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study of 296 psychiatric patients assessed five times between 2020-2021.
• Mixed logistic models and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze SFT characteristics and their associations.
• The study evaluated interactions between SFT, suicidal ideation, depression, insomnia, loneliness, and social support.

Main Results:

• Significant alterations in SFT were observed, correlating with governmental restriction periods.
• Patients with a history of SA showed lower SFT during the initial lockdown compared to AC.
• Depression influenced the SFT-suicidal ideation link, while insomnia mediated this relationship between lockdowns.

Conclusions:

• Disturbances in SFT may reflect adaptability challenges or coping mechanisms during lockdowns.
• Understanding SFT's interplay with depression, insomnia, and suicidal ideation is crucial for psychological distress management.
• SFT alterations offer insights into complex psychological responses to pandemic-related stressors.