Covid-19 pandemic: Anxiety experience of resident and hospital psychiatrists

Background: To date, no studies have examined the pandemic-related stress experience of inpatient versus outpatient psychiatrists. Therefore, the aim is to investigate the extent of Covid-19 exposure, anxiety, stress experience, and coping abilities among psychiatrists in private practice compared to physicians in psychiatric and psychosomatic hospitals. Methods: E-mail-based questionnaires with 13 items were used to assess anxiety and stress experience. A total of 105 practicing psychiatrists, and 73 physicians and psychologists from four clinics (including the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy) were surveyed between early April and mid-May 2020. Results: Compared to hospital psychiatrists, psychiatrists in private practice more often felt severely restricted (52.4 vs. 32.9 % p = 0.010), at risk of infection (35.2 vs. 13.7 %, p < 0.001) and financially threatened (24.7 vs. 6.9 %, p = 0.002). The proportion of well-informed practicing psychiatrists was lower (47.6 vs. 63.0 %, p = 0.043) and the proportion with lack of protective equipment was higher (27.6 vs. 4.1 %, p < 0.001). At the same COVID-19 exposure level (8.6 vs. 8.2 %), office-based psychiatrists were more likely to report high anxiety, although not significantly, compared to hospital psychiatrists (18.1 vs. 9.6 %, p = 0.114). Risk factors for experiencing anxiety in both groups were feeling restricted (OR = 5.52, p = 0.025) and experienced risk of infection (OR = 5.74, p = 0.005). Exposure level, clinic or practice affiliation, age, gender, and other dimensions of threat experience and coping behavior had no influence. Discussion: Psychiatrists in private practice felt more stressed and threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic compared with hospital-based colleagues. The experience of anxiety was dependent on feeling constrained and at risk of exposure, but not on exposure, protective equipment. Objective indicators seem to play less of an important role in the expression of anxiety than subjective experience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (German) Hintergrund: Bisher gibt es keine Studien, die das Pandemie bedingte Belastungserleben von stationar im Vergleich zu ambulant tatigen Psychiatern untersucht hat. Es soll deshalb das Ausmas der Covid-19-Exposition, die Angst, das Belastungserleben und die Bewaltigungsmoglichkeiten bei niedergelassenen Psychiatern im Vergleich zu Arzten in psychiatrischen und psychosomatischen Kliniken untersucht werden. Methode: Zur Erfassung von Angst- und Belastungserleben wurden E-Mail-gestutzte Fragebogen mit 13 Items genutzt. Insgesamt wurden 105 niedergelassene Psychiater, und 73 Arzte und Psychologen aus vier Klinikern (inkl. Klinik fur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie) zwischen Anfang April bis Mitte Mai 2020 befragt. Ergebnis: In ihrem Belastungserleben fuhlten sich niedergelassene im Vergleich zu Krankenhauspsychiatern haufiger stark eingeschrankt (52,4 vs. 32,9 % p = 0,010), infektionsgefahrdet (35,2 vs. 13,7 %, p < 0,001) und finanziell bedroht (24,7 vs. 6,9 %, p = 0,002). Der Anteil gut Informierter niedergelassener Psychiater war geringer (47,6 vs. 63,0 %, p = 0,043) und der Anteil mit fehlender Schutzausrustung hoher (27,6 vs. 4,1 %, p < 0,001). Bei gleichem COVID-19 Expositionsniveau (8,6 vs. 8,2 %) berichteten niedergelassene Psychiater im Vergleich zu Krankenhaus-Psychiatern haufiger, wenn auch nicht signifikant, grose Angst (18,1 vs. 9,6 %, p = 0,114). Risikofaktoren fur ein Angsterleben waren in beiden Gruppen das Gefuhl der Einschrankung (OR = 5,52, p = 0,025) und die erlebte Infektionsgefahr (OR = 5,74, p = 0,005). Keinen Einfluss hatten das Expositionsniveau, die Klinik- bzw. Praxiszugehorigkeit, das Alter, das Geschlecht und andere Dimensionen des Bedrohungserlebens und des Bewaltigungsverhaltens. Diskussion: Niedergelassene Psychiater fuhlten sich im Vergleich zu den Kollegen im Krankenhaus durch die COVID-19 Pandemie mehr belastet und bedroht. Das Erleben von Angst war abhangig vom Gefuhl der Einschrankung und der Expositionsgefahr, nicht jedoch von der Exposition, der Ausstattung mit Schutzmitteln. Fur die Auspragung der Angst scheinen weniger objektive Indikatoren als das subjektive Erleben eine wichtige Rolle zu spielen. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

[Covid-19 Pandemic: Anxiety Experience of Resident and Hospital Psychiatrists]. / Covid-19-Pandemie: Angsterleben von niedergelassenen und Krankenhaus-Psychiatern.

BACKGROUND: To date, no studies have examined the pandemic-related stress experience of inpatient versus outpatient psychiatrists. Therefore, the aim is to investigate the extent of Covid-19 exposure, anxiety, stress experience, and coping abilities among psychiatrists in private practice compared to physicians in psychiatric and psychosomatic hospitals. METHODS: E-mail-based questionnaires with 13 items were used to assess anxiety and stress experience. A total of 105 practicing psychiatrists, and 73 physicians and psychologists from four clinics (including the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy) were surveyed between early April and mid-May 2020. RESULTS: Compared to hospital psychiatrists, psychiatrists in private practice more often felt severely restricted (52.4 vs. 32.9% p=0.010), at risk of infection (35.2 vs. 13.7%, p<0.001) and financially threatened (24.7 vs. 6.9%, p=0.002). The proportion of well-informed practicing psychiatrists was lower (47.6 vs. 63.0%, p=0.043) and the proportion with lack of protective equipment was higher (27.6 vs. 4.1%, p<0.001). At the same COVID-19 exposure level (8.6 vs. 8.2%), office-based psychiatrists were more likely to report high anxiety, although not significantly, compared to hospital psychiatrists (18.1 vs. 9.6%, p=0.114). Risk factors for experiencing anxiety in both groups were feeling restricted (OR=5.52, p=0.025) and experienced risk of infection (OR=5.74, p=0.005). Exposure level, clinic or practice affiliation, age, gender, and other dimensions of threat experience and coping behavior had no influence. DISCUSSION: Psychiatrists in private practice felt more stressed and threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic compared with hospital-based colleagues. The experience of anxiety was dependent on feeling constrained and at risk of exposure, but not on exposure, protective equipment. Objective indicators seem to play less of an important role in the expression of anxiety than subjective experience.