Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 59 6 2021 08 14 322 326 Ali Akbar Asadi-pooya Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.AND Department of Neurology, Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA. Seyed Ali Nabavizadeh Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Saeid Sadeghian Department of Pediatric Neurology, Golestan Medical, Educational, and Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mina Shahisavandi Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Zohreh Barzegar Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Abdullah Nezafat Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Nahid Ashjazadeh Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Hamed Bazrafshan Drissi Department of Cardiovascular, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Ali Sahraian Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2021 02 03 2021 04 20 The aim of the current study was to investigate the rates of stress, anxiety, and depression among people in south Iran (a group from the general population without a history of any chronic medical problems, and cohorts of patients were recruited from epilepsy, diabetes, and cardiac disease clinics). We surveyed a sample of people during September 2020: a group of the general population without a history of any chronic medical problems, people with epilepsy, people with diabetes mellitus (DM), and people with cardiac problems. The survey included four general questions and two COVID-19 specific questions [contracting COVID-19, relatives with COVID-19]. Furthermore, the survey included the DASS (Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale)-21 questionnaire. 487 people were surveyed (154 people with epilepsy, 127 patients with DM, 98 people with cardiac problems, and 108 healthy individuals). Among people without a history of any chronic medical illnesses, 14% had any psychological problems. The highest rates of depression and anxiety were observed among patients with DM (52% and 57%, respectively), and the highest rate of increased stress was observed among people with cardiac problems (40%). The existence of any underlying medical problem was significantly associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among the participants. While many patients with underlying chronic medical conditions suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot establish a cause and effect relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and increased psychological problems among these patients. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/9140