Anja Zimmer

University of Basel | UNIBAS · Division of Cognitive Neuroscience

Abstract Background: To assess the psychological consequences of changes during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic in the Iranian population. Methods: We performed an anonymous online survey in the first 3 weeks of March 2020. Individuals older than 14 who could read Persian, and lived in Iran, were eligible for the study. The participants ha...

This paper reports the results of the 4th survey of the Swiss Corona Stress Study. During the survey period from November 16-28, 2021, 11167 people from all over Switzerland participated in the anonymous online survey. Stress factors: There were major differences between the group of vaccinated persons (58 percent of respondents) and the group of u...

Although in vivo exposure therapy is highly effective in the treatment of specific phobias, only a minority of patients seeks therapy. Exposure to virtual objects has been shown to be better tolerated, equally efficacious, but the technology has not been made widely accessible yet. We developed an augmented reality (AR) application (app) to reduce...

Although in vivo exposure therapy is highly effective in the treatment of specific phobias, only a minority of patients seeks therapy. Exposure to virtual objects has been shown to be better tolerated, equally efficacious, but the technology has not been made widely accessible yet. We developed an augmented reality (AR) application (app) to reduce...

The last survey of the Swiss Corona Stress Study in November 2020 has shown that the proportion of respondents with moderately severe to severe depressive symptoms was 18%, with the youngest group of 14-24 year olds being the most affected at 29%. Between 8 and 24 March 2021, an additional survey was conducted in the German speaking part of Northwe...

Smartphone-based virtual reality (VR) applications (apps) might help to counter low utilization rates of available treatments for fear of heights. Demonstration of effectiveness in real-life situations of such apps is crucial, but lacking so far. Objective of this study was to develop a stand-alone, smartphone-based VR exposure app—Easy Heights—and...

The results of the third survey of the Swiss Corona Stress Study refer to the period from November 11-19, 2020, during which 11,612 people from all over Switzerland participated. Stress levels have increased significantly compared to the first survey during lockdown in April 2020. While the proportion of people reporting maximum stress levels was a...

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic and governmental counter measurements, confinement in particular, have changed the routines of everyday life of people all over the world. To assess the psychological consequences of daily life changes during COVID-19 pandemic in the Iranian population.Method: We performed an anonymous online survey in the first 3 wee...

The mental consequences of the strict lockdown measures implemented by governments world-wide to fight the current COVID-19 pandemic are currently unknown. We performed an online survey study in more than 10’000 individuals living in Switzerland to assess how subjective stress levels and depressive symptoms are affected by the lockdown, to explore...