Evidence-Based Reviews

The psychiatric consequences of COVID-19: 8 Studies

Current Psychiatry. 2020 November;19(11):22-24,28-30,32-35 | doi:10.12788/cp.0055

References

1. Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et. al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet. 2020;395(10223):497-506.
2. John Hopkins University & Medicine. Coronavirus Resource Center. 2020. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu. Accessed October 16, 2020.
3. Montalvan V, Lee J, Bueso T, et al. Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections: a systematic review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2020;194:105921.
4. Wu P, Fang Y, Guan Z, et al. The psychological impact of the SARS epidemic on hospital employees in China: exposure, risk perception, and altruistic acceptance of risk. Can J Psychiatry. 2009;54(5):302-311.
5. Vindegaard N, Benros ME. COVID-19 pandemic and mental health consequences: systematic review of the current evidence. Brain Behav Immun. 2020;89:531-542.
6. Pappa S, Ntella V, Giannakas T, et al. Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Behav Immun. 2020;88:901-907.
7. Loades ME, Chatburn E, Higson-Sweeney N, et al. Rapid systematic review: the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the mental health of children and adolescents in the context of COVID-19 [published online June 3, 2020]. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;S0890-8567(20)30337-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2020.05.009.
8. Rogers JP, Chesney E, Oliver D, et al. Psychiatric and neuropsychiatric presentations associated with severe coronavirus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis with comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(7):611-627.
9. Shiozawa P, Uchida RR. An updated systematic review on the coronavirus pandemic: lessons for psychiatry. Braz J Psychiatry. 2020;42(3):330-331.
10. Salari N, Hosseinian-Far A, Jalali R, et al. Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Global Health. 2020;16(1):57.
11. Preti E, Di Mattei V, Perego G, et al. The psychological impact of epidemic and pandemic outbreaks on healthcare workers: rapid review of the evidence [published online July 10, 2020]. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020;22(8):43.
12. Varatharaj A, Thomas N, Ellul MA, et al. Neurological and neuropsychiatric complications of COVID-19 in 153 patients: a UK-wide surveillance study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(10):875-882.

7. Preti E, Di Mattei V, Perego G, et al. The psychological impact of epidemic and pandemic outbreaks on healthcare workers: rapid review of the evidence. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020;22(8):43.

Preti et al¹¹ performed a review of the literature to determine the impact of epidemic/pandemic outbreaks on health care workers’ mental health.

Study design

Researchers conducted a rapid systematic review of 44 studies examining the psychological impact of epidemic/pandemic outbreaks on health care workers.
Of the 44 studies, 27 (62%) referred to the SARS outbreak, 5 (11%) referred to the MERS outbreak, 5 (11%) referred to the COVID-19 outbreak, 3 (7%) referred to the influenza A virus subtype H1N1 outbreak, 3 (7%) referred to the Ebola virus disease outbreak, and 1 (2%) referred to the Asian lineage avian influenza outbreak.

Outcomes

During these outbreaks, insomnia was found in 34% to 36.1% of health care workers, and severe anxiety symptoms in 45%.
The prevalence of PTSD-like symptoms among health care workers during the outbreaks was 11% to 73.4%. Studies of the COVID-19 pandemic reported the highest prevalence of PTSD-like symptoms (71.5% to 73%). After 1 to 3 years following an outbreak, 10% to 40% of health care workers still had significant PTSD-like symptoms.
Anxiety was reported in 45% of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A sub-analysis revealed a positive association between anxiety, PTSD, and stress symptoms and being female gender, being a nurse, and working on high-risk units.
Perceived organizational support and confidence in protective measures were negatively associated with psychological symptoms.

Conclusions/limitations

Lessons from previous outbreaks and early data from the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that health care workers experience higher levels of psychological symptoms during outbreaks. Findings of this study suggest that organizational support and confidence in protective measures can mitigate this effect. To help preserve the well-being of health care workers, adequate training should be provided, appropriate personal protective equipment should be readily available, and support services should be well established.

8. Varatharaj A, Thomas N, Ellul MA, et al. Neurological and neuropsychiatric complications of COVID-19 in 153 patients: a UK-wide surveillance study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(10):875-882.

Varatharaj et al¹² conducted a surveillance study in patients in the United Kingdom to understand the breadth of neurologic complications of COVID-19.

Continue to: Study design