Anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults with subjective cognitive complaints: impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) refer to the perception of cognitive alterations in individuals with normal performance on neuropsychological tests. SCC are associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened global mental health, elevating rates of anxiety and depression. This study aims to report the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals with SCC, particularly anxiety and depression, and to compare these symptoms between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 136 neuropsychological reports of adults with SCC evaluated between June 2018 and December 2022. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II or the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, while anxious symptoms were assessed with the Beck Anxiety Inventory. For cases with an informant, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory was employed.

Among participants, 52.2% presented with anxiety symptoms and 30.9% with depressive symptoms, based on self-administered questionnaires. Anxiety symptoms were significantly more prevalent and severe during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. In the 59 cases evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, depressive symptoms were the most frequent, followed by irritability and anxiety.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms are common in individuals with SCC, with a marked increase in anxiety during the pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensively evaluating neuropsychiatric symptoms in this population to mitigate their present and future impact.