Psychiatry research
-
Psychiatry research · Nov 2020
Psychological effects of the COVID-2019 pandemic: Perceived stress and coping strategies among healthcare professionals.
Starting from China, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) contagion spread unexpectedly and quickly all over the world, particularly affecting Italy. In the early stages of the epidemic, healthcare professionals have been in the front-line to manage the infection. The current study aimed to analyse the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on healthcare professionals and to detect some risk and protective factors of their distress levels, with regard to socio-demographic variables, direct exposure to COVID-19 and the coping strategies used to deal with stress. ⋯ Overall, we found that a positive attitude towards the stressful situation was the main protective factor, while female gender, seeking social support, avoidance strategies and working with COVID-19 patients were risk factors. Economic status, problem solving ability and turning to religion were not associated with stress levels. This study, one of the first on this topic, highlighted the main coping strategies used by healthcare professionals in facing the highly stressful situation caused by the pandemic.
-
Psychiatry research · Nov 2020
ReviewIn the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak: Early practical guidelines for psychosocial aspects of COVID-19 in East Java, Indonesia.
It is generally recognized that psychosocial interventions are an essential component in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. Research focusing on the handling of psychosocial conditions in the COVID-19 outbreak seems sparse. After reviewing several scholarly articles, we recommend several things that can be used as a basis for developing practical guidelines for handling psychosocial problems, especially in East Java Province, Indonesia. ⋯ Some evidence strongly supports the need for knowledge about the stages of COVID-19, understanding of psychosocial responses, understanding of psychosocial interventions, and availability of hotline services in psychosocial interventions at each stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. It is important to provide practical guidance for the early management of psychosocial aspects of the innovative COVID-19 in providing more comprehensive care. There is strong evidence of the need for practical guidance on initial handling of the psychosocial aspects of COVID-19 for the community, especially in Indonesia's East Java Province.
-
Psychiatry research · Nov 2020
ReviewImpact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of children and adolescents: A narrative review with recommendations.
COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has brought about a sense of fear and anxiety around the globe. This phenomenon has led to short term as well as long term psychosocial and mental health implications for children and adolescents. The quality and magnitude of impact on minors is determined by many vulnerability factors like developmental age, educational status, pre-existing mental health condition, being economically underprivileged or being quarantined due to infection or fear of infection. ⋯ There is a pressing need for planning longitudinal and developmental studies, and implementing evidence based elaborative plan of action to cater to the psycho social and mental health needs of the vulnerable children and adolescents during pandemic as well as post pandemic. There is a need to ameliorate children and adolescents' access to mental health support services geared towards providing measures for developing healthy coping mechanisms during the current crisis. For this innovative child and adolescent mental health policies policies with direct and digital collaborative networks of psychiatrists, psychologists, paediatricians, and community volunteers are deemed necessary.
-
Psychiatry research · Nov 2020
Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effects of stay-at-home policies, social distancing behavior, and social resources.
Social distancing is the most visible public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but its implications for mental health are unknown. In a nationwide online sample of 435 U. ⋯ A subsample of 118 participants who had completed symptom measures earlier in the outbreak (February 2020) showed increases in depression and GAD between February and March, and personal distancing behavior was associated with these increases. Findings suggest that there are negative mental health correlates of social distancing, which should be addressed in research, policy, and clinical approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Psychiatry research · Nov 2020
The role of perceived social support on depression and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aim of the present study was to examine the role of perceived social support pertaining to a range of psychological health outcomes amongst individuals undergoing social isolation and social distancing during COVID-19. A total of 2,020 participants provided responses to an online cross-sectional survey comprised of validated instruments including the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Brief Irritability Test (BITe) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS). Individuals experiencing self-isolation had significantly higher rates of depression, irritability and loneliness compared to those who were not. ⋯ Similarly, those with high social support had a 52% lower risk of poor sleep quality compared to those with low social support. Social support was found to be significantly associated with elevated risk for depression and poorer sleep quality. The results contribute to our understanding of differential psychological outcomes for individuals experiencing anti-pandemic measures.