ABSTRACT
This research explored the role of passion when facing the COVID-19 pandemic. In three studies, we investigated the role of engaging in a pre-existing passionate activity (Studies 1 and 2), developing a new passionate activity (Studies 2 and 3), and letting go of an unavailable passionate activity (Study 3) during the pandemic. Emotions experienced when engaging in the passionate activity were examined as mediators in the relationships between the passionate engagement and psychological health. Results showed that harmonious passions (HPs) for pre-existing (Studies 1 to 3) and new activities (Studies 2 and 3) were positively related to well-being via positive emotions. HPs for pre-existing (Study 1) and new activities (Studies 2 and 3) were also negatively related to ill-being through their negative relationships with negative emotions and the positive link between a HP for a new activity and disengagement from an unavailable passionate activity (Study 3). Conversely, obsessive passions (OPs) for pre-existing (Study 1) and new activities (Study 2) were positively related to well-being, but also to negative emotions and ill-being (Studies 1 to 3). In sum, when facing a major negative event, HPs for pre-existing and new activities were positively related to more positive psychological outcomes than OPs. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
ABSTRACT
Background and aims: There is limited evidence on the characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 in patients with dementia. We report a cohort study on 125 patients with dementia hospitalized for a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in two gerontologic Covid Units in Paris, France, from March 14th 2020 to May 7th 2020. Patients with dementia hospitalized for confirmed infection were systematically enrolled. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mortality at 21 days. Results: We included 125 patients. Median age was 86 (IQI 82-90);59.4% were female. Most common causes of dementia were Alzheimer's disease, mixed dementia and vascular dementia. 67.2% had two comorbidities;40.2% lived in a long-term care facility. The most common symptoms at COVID-19 onset were confusion and delirium (79%), asthenia (74.4%) and fever (70.5%) before polypnea (49.6%) and desaturation (48.8%). Falls were frequent at the initial phase of the disease (34%). The fatality rate at 21 days was 22.4%. Chronic kidney disease and CRP at admission were independent factors of death. Persisting confusion, mood and behavioral disorders were observed in survivors (19.2%). Conclusion: In demented patients, SARS-CoV-2 was frequently revealed by confusion and asthenia and was associated with severe outcome. COVID19 testing should be considered in front of any significant change from baseline in patients with dementia.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major sanitary crisis worldwide. Half of the world has been placed in quarantine. In France, this large-scale health crisis urgently triggered the restructuring and reorganization of health service delivery to support emergency services, medical intensive care units and continuing care units. Health professionals mobilized all their resources to provide emergency aid in a general climate of uncertainty. Concerns about the mental health, psychological adjustment, and recovery of health care workers treating and caring for patients with COVID-19 are now arising. The goal of the present article is to provide up-to-date information on potential mental health risks associated with exposure of health professionals to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Authors performed a narrative review identifying relevant results in the scientific and medical literature considering previous epidemics of 2003 (SARS-CoV-1) and 2009 (H1N1) with the more recent data about the COVID-19 pandemic. We highlighted most relevant data concerning the disease characteristics, the organizational factors and personal factors that may contribute to developing psychological distress and other mental health symptoms. RESULTS: The disease characteristics of the current COVID-19 pandemic provoked a generalized climate of wariness and uncertainty, particularly among health professionals, due to a range of causes such as the rapid spread of COVID-19, the severity of symptoms it can cause in a segment of infected individuals, the lack of knowledge of the disease, and deaths among health professionals. Stress may also be caused by organizational factors, such as depletion of personal protection equipment, concerns about not being able to provide competent care if deployed to new area, concerns about rapidly changing information, lack of access to up-to-date information and communication, lack of specific drugs, the shortage of ventilators and intensive care unit beds necessary to care for the surge of critically ill patients, and significant change in their daily social and family life. Further risk factors have been identified, including feelings of being inadequately supported, concerns about health of self, fear of taking home infection to family members or others, and not having rapid access to testing through occupational health if needed, being isolated, feelings of uncertainty and social stigmatization, overwhelming workload, or insecure attachment. Additionally, we discussed positive social and organizational factors that contribute to enhance resilience in the face of the pandemic. There is a consensus in all the relevant literature that health care professionals are at an increased risk of high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder, which could have long-term psychological implications. CONCLUSIONS: In the long run, this tragic health crisis should significantly enhance our understanding of the mental health risk factors among the health care professionals facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Reporting information such as this is essential to plan future prevention strategies. Protecting health care professionals is indeed an important component of public health measures to address large-scale health crisis. Thus, interventions to promote mental well-being in health care professionals exposed to COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented, and to strengthen prevention and response strategies by training health care professionals on mental help and crisis management.