Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adult Mental Health

Imran Ijaz Haider, Farah Tiwana, Sania Mumtaz Tahir, Imran Ijaz Haider, Farah Tiwana, Sania Mumtaz Tahir

Abstract

The outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in December 2019 has progressed to the status of a global pandemic, with countries across the seven continents adversely affected and the number of human cases exceeding two million. With no available vaccine, the treatment is primarily symptomatic for those affected and preventative for those at risk. Most countries have taken action to curtail the spread of COVID-19 through measures such as lockdowns, social distancing and voluntary self-isolation. Whilst necessary, such measures and the disease itself, may have an adverse impact on mental health. In view of research from previous pandemic crises, it is known that such situations are likely to increase stress levels and have negative psychiatric effects. The impact is likely to be felt by the general public, sufferers of COVID-19, their families and friends, persons with pre-existing mental health conditions and healthcare workers.

Keywords: COVID-19; Mental Health; Pandemic Impact.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors confirm that no conflict of interest exists with regard to this current work.

Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

References

    1. Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19) [Internet] . 2020. [cited 17 April 2020] Available from: .
    1. Covid-19 [Internet] New Scientist. 2020. [cited 17 April 2020] Available from:
    1. Mukhtar F, Mukhtar N. Coronavirus (COVID-19):Let's Prevent Not Panic. J Ayub Med Coll. 2020;32(1):141–144.
    1. Gutierrez P. Coronavirus world map:which countries have the most cases and deaths?[Internet] the Guardian. 2020. [cited 17 April 2020] Available from: .
    1. Pakistan Coronavirus:7,025 Cases and 135 Deaths - Worldometer [Internet] . 2020. [cited 22 April 2020] Available from:
    1. Khamsi R. If a coronavirus vaccine arrives, can the world make enough? [Internet] . 2020. [cited 17 April 2020] Available from: .
    1. Mak I, Chu C, Pan P, Yiu M, Chan V. Long-term psychiatric morbidities among SARS survivors. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2009;31(4):318–326. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.03.001.
    1. Bonanno G, Ho S, Chan J, Kwong R, Cheung C, Wong C, et al. Psychological resilience and dysfunction among hospitalized survivors of the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong:A latent class approach. Health Psychol. 2008;27(5):659–667. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.27.5.659.
    1. Teo AR, Choi H, Andrea SB, Valenstein M, Newsom JT, Dobscha SK, et al. Does mode of contact with different types of social relationships predict depression in older adults?Evidence from a nationally representative survey. J Am Geriat Soc. 2015;63(10):2014–2022. doi:10.1111/jgs.13667.
    1. Hari J. Lost connections:Uncovering the real causes of depression-and the unexpected solutions. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc; 2019 Jan 2; DOI Unavailable.
    1. Galea S, Merchant R, Lurie N. The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing. JAMA Int Med. 2020 Apr 10; doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562.
    1. McAlonan G, Lee A, Cheung V, Wong J, Chua S. Correspondence. Psychol Med. 2005;35(3):459–461. doi:10.1017/S0033291704004362.
    1. Tam C, Pang E, Lam L, Chiu H. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong in 2003:stress and psychological impact among frontline healthcare workers. Psychol Med. 2004;34(7):1197–1204. doi:10.1017/S0033291704002247.
    1. Kaufman KR, Petkova E, Bhui KS, Schulze TG. A global needs assessment in times of a global crisis:world psychiatry response to the COVID-19 pandemic. BJ Psych Open. 2020:1–1. doi:10.1192/bjo.2020.25.
    1. Herbert J. Fortnightly review:Stress, the brain, and mental illness. BMJ. 1997;315(7107):530–535. doi:10.1136/bmj.315.7107.530.
    1. Huang Y, Zhao N. Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 epidemic in China:a web-based cross-sectional survey. Psychiatry Res. 2020 doi:10.1101/2020.02.19.20025395.
    1. Shigemura J, Ursano RJ, Morganstein JC, Kurosawa M, Benedek DM. Public responses to the novel 2019 coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Japan:mental health consequences and target populations. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020 Feb 8; doi:10.1111/pcn.12988.
    1. Horan W, Ventura J, Mintz J, Kopelowicz A, Wirshing D, Christian-Herman J, et al. Stress and coping responses to a natural disaster in people with schizophrenia. Psychiat Res. 2007;151(1-2):77–86. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2006.10.009.
    1. Kumar A, Somani A. Dealing with Corona virus anxiety and OCD. Asian J Psychiat. 2020;51:102053. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102053.
    1. Felix I, Angus M, Ilanit HO, Giancarlo D. Psychological intervention and COVID-19:What we know so far and what we can do. Psychological Intervention and COVID-19. 2020 doi:10.31234/.
    1. Maunder R, Leszcz M, Savage D, Adam M, Peladeau N, Romano D, et al. Applying the Lessons of SARS to Pandemic Influenza. Canad J Public Health. 2008;99(6):486–488. doi:10.1007/BF03403782.
    1. Aiello A, Khayeri M, Raja S, Peladeau N, Romano D, Leszcz M, et al. Resilience Training for Hospital Workers in Anticipation of an Influenza Pandemic. J Continuing Edu Health Prof. 2011;31(1):15–20. doi:10.1002/chp.20096.
    1. Depoux A, Martin S, Karafillakis E, Preet R, Wilder-Smith A, Larson H. The pandemic of social media panic travels faster than the COVID-19 outbreak. J Trav Med. 2020 doi:10.1093/jtm/taaa031.
    1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Mental health and coping during COVID-19. Atlanta: CDC; 2020.
    1. Dong L, Bouey J. Public mental health crisis during COVID-19 pandemic, China. Emerg Infect Diseases. 2020;26(7) doi:10.3201/eid2607.200407.
    1. Pfefferbaum B, North CS. Mental Health and COVID-19. N Engl J Med. 2020 doi:10.1056/NEJMp2008017.
    1. Shah K, Kamrai D, Mekala H, Mann B, Desai K, Patel R. Focus on Mental Health During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic:Applying Learnings from the Past Outbreaks. Cureus. 2020 doi:10.7759/cureus.7405.
    1. Zhou X, Snoswell C, Harding L, Bambling M, Edirippulige S, Bai X, et al. The Role of Telehealth in Reducing the Mental Health Burden from COVID-19. Telemedicine and e-Health. 2020 doi:10.1089/tmj.2020.0068.
    1. Organization W. Psychological First Aid. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011.

Source: PubMed

3
Prenumerera