Predicting transitions between longitudinal classes of post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol of a latent transition model in a general Dutch sample

BMJ Open, vol. 12, pp. e055696

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A growing body of literature shows profound effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, among which increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder (AD). However, current research efforts have largely been unilateral, focusing on psychopathology and not including well-being, and are dominated by examining average psychopathology levels or on disorder absence/presence, thereby ignoring individual differences in mental health. Knowledge on individual differences, as depicted by latent subgroups, in the full spectrum of mental health may provide valuable insights in how individuals transition between health states and factors that predict transitioning from resilient to symptomatic classes. Our aim is to (1) identify longitudinal classes (ie, subgroups of individuals) based on indicators of PTSD, AD and well-being in response to the pandemic and (2) examine predictors of transitioning between these subgroups. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a three-wave longitudinal online survey study of n≥2000 adults from the general Dutch population. The first measurement occasion takes place 6 months after the start of the pandemic, followed by two follow-up measurements with 6 months of intervals. Latent transition analysis will be used for data analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from four Dutch universities. Longitudinal study designs are vital to monitor mental health (and predictors thereof) in the pandemic to develop preventive and curative mental health interventions. This study is carried out by researchers who are board members of the Dutch Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and is part of a pan-European study (initiated by the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies) examining the impact of the pandemic in 11 countries. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at conferences, via newsletters, and media appearance among (psychotrauma) professionals and the general public.

Authors 8

1. Lonneke I. M. Lenferink corresponding

   University of Groningen · University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

   Psychology, Health, and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

   Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology

   Psychology, Health, and Technology

   Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

   University of Twente

2. Joanne Mouthaan Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Department of Clinical Psychology

   Leiden University

3. Anna M. Fritz Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Department of Clinical Psychology

   Leiden University

4. Suzan Soydas

   Utrecht University · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group

   Affiliation as printed

   ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

   ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre

   Department of Clinical Psychology

   Utrecht University

5. Marloes B. Eidhof

   Radboud University Nijmegen · Reinier van Arkel

   Affiliation as printed

   Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   Reinier van Arkel Psychotraumacenter South Netherlands, Den Bosch, The Netherlands

   Behavioural Science Institute

   Radboud Universiteit

   Reinier van Arkel Psychotraumacenter South Netherlands

6. Marie‐José van Hoof Aachen Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Curium-LUMC

   Leiden University Medical Center · Amsterdam University Medical Centers

   Affiliation as printed

   Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Curium-LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, locatie Meibergdreef, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

   Amsterdam UMC, locatie Meibergdreef

   Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

   Curium-LUMC

   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

7. Simon Groen

   GGZ Drenthe

   Affiliation as printed

   GGZ Drenthe Mental Health Care, De Evenaar Centrum Transculturele Psychiatrie, Beilen, The Netherlands

   De Evenaar Centrum Transculturele Psychiatrie

   GGZ Drenthe Mental Health Care

8. Trudy T. M. Mooren

   Utrecht University · Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group

   Affiliation as printed

   ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

   ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre

   Department of Clinical Psychology

   Utrecht University