COVID-19 and the Developement of Phobic Fears of Disease

January 10, 2023 updated by: Medical University of Graz
A lot of people suffer from phobias. Phobias concerning certain diseases are not rare. This study will examine whether the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease) crisis was able to rise phobias in people and if those with preexisting phobias or fears were more likely to develop a phobia concerning COVID. It will look at different subtypes - physicians, medical staff, general public (not medically affiliated) and patients with psychiatric disorders.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

600

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Austria
    • Styria
      • Graz, Styria, Austria, 8036
        • Recruiting
        • Medical University of Graz
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

physicians, medical staff, general public, patients with psychiatric disorders

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Person gives written consent
  • Persons between 18-90 years of age (men and women)
  • No positive COVID infection known at time of first examination

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Dementia, Delirium (not able to give consent)
  • Not fulfilling the inclusion criteria
  • COVID infection known at first examination point

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Physicians
Questionnaires
Other: Questionnaires for specific phobia
Questionnaires will be used.
Medical staff
Questionnaires
Other: Questionnaires for specific phobia
Questionnaires will be used.
General public
Questionnaires
Other: Questionnaires for specific phobia
Questionnaires will be used.
Patients with psychiatric disorders
Questionnaires
Other: Questionnaires for specific phobia
Questionnaires will be used.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Development of phobias
Time Frame: 2 years

Specific Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ): The SPQ consists of 43 items, each rated using a 5-point Likert scale on two dimensions: (1) level of fear, with scores ranging from 0 (no fear) to 4 (extreme fear) and (2) extent to which the fear interferes with one's daily life, with scores ranging from 0 (no interference) to 4 (extreme interference). The SPQ is scored by combining fear ratings of each Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) specific phobia type.

Severity Measure for Specific Phobia-Adult: The total score can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating greater severity of specific phobia.
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Medical University of Graz

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Andreas Baranyi, Prof., Medical University of Graz

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 15, 2020

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

November 15, 2023

Study Completion (Anticipated)

November 15, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 21, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 21, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

April 24, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 11, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 10, 2023

Last Verified

January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 32-354 ex 19/20

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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