ABSTRACT
Introduction: According to recent reports Covid-19 patients may exhibit psychiatric co-morbidities that cause dysfunction, loss of autonomy and emotional suffering even after the physical illness is treated. Considering the high impact Covid-19 may have on mental health, we have created a psychiatric consultation dedicated to the study, observation and support of patients that developed mental illness after being hospitalized due to Covid-19. Objective(s): We aim at 1) describe the profile of patients that developed psychiatric comorbidities following a hospitalization due to Covid-19 and 2) recognize and treat early psychiatric symptoms in Covid-19 patients. Method(s): Based on what was described in other epidemic crisis, we established a semi-structured interview to evaluate several dimensions of the patients' life thatmay have been affected byCovid-19 and that may impact on mental health. The interview included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Each patient was observed multiple times over several months.Our evaluation was done in parallel with consultations in Internal Medicine. Result(s): Most patients complained of symptoms directly related with the infection of SARS-CoV-2, namely fatigue, short breath and reduced tolerance to efforts. Importantly, many patients also reported de novo or aggravation of anxiety, stress, depression, sleep disturbances and grief often associated with feelings of existential emptiness and lack of purpose. Conclusion(s): Hospitalization due to Covid-19 has a high impact on mental health, raising important questions on purpose and emptiness. An early psychiatric intervention is highly recommended.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic brought enormous challenges for health professionals. As in past epidemics, the uncertainty, danger and fear of contamination and an excessive load of work under dramatic conditions may contribute to aggravate the mental health of health professionals. Objective(s): Explore how the Covid-19 crisis impacted the mental health of healthcare workers and how their mental status relates with perspectives on the recent past and near future. Method(s): A longitudinal study will be applied in two phases, Q1 and Q2, one year apart, to evaluate depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress among health professionals froma healthcare center in Portugal. Phase Q1 is concluded and comprised the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and a questionnaire about the past and the future. Result(s): The IES-R scale revealed that nurses are at a higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other professionals. The levels of depression and anxiety in the DASS-21 show no significant differences. Interestingly, professionals who worked almost exclusively at inpatient wards show higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress than those who worked at several hospital units (emergency, inpatient and outpatient units). A positive correlation was found between depression and anxiety and negative perspectives about the past and the future. Conclusion(s): Covid-19 posed a terrible challenge for health professionals. Its impact on the mental health of healthcare workers may be significant even after the pandemic is under control.