Teachers' Emotional Exhaustion and Teaching Enthusiasm Before Versus During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Long-Term Longitudinal Study

Because of the sudden removal of teachers' work routines, we investigated pandemic-related changes in mathematics teachers' emotional exhaustion and teaching enthusiasm.We drew on data from a 15-year longitudinal study, including four prepandemic (2007-2019) and two pandemic (2021 and 2022) measurement points. During the COVID-19 pandemic, N = 194 teachers participated in 2021 and N = 214 in 2022. The results from latent growth curve models indicated a pronounced increase in emotional exhaustion and a decrease in enthusiasm during the pandemic. We also found that good technical equipment and high openness represent resources associated with a lower increase in emotional exhaustion, whereas difficulties with students during the COVID-19 pandemic and high extraversion were risk factors. Like in other occupations, these results indicate that COVID-19 negatively affected teachers' experiences and highlight the need to support teachers to avoid further negative consequences for teachers and students.

Therapeutic alliance, social inclusion and infection control-Towards pandemic-adapted mental healthcare services in Switzerland

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the Swiss mental healthcare system. Many services were downsized or closed, and admission to treatment and care institutions was restricted during lockdown. These measures were necessary according to the general containment and mitigation strategies of federal and cantonal authorities, but this situation has had negative consequences for care and treatment of service users. This paper asks for a rethink of key aspects of the Swiss mental healthcare system that have been demonstrated not to be adaptable to the pandemic. In particular, the paper suggests diversifying care and treatment settings, and strengthening outpatient and outreach services. Finally, some proposals to foster social inclusion during and after the pandemic are outlined. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Post-viral mental health sequelae in infected persons associated with COVID-19 and previous epidemics and pandemics: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence estimates.

AIMS: Post-viral mental health problems (MHP) in COVID-19 patients and survivors were anticipated already during early stages of this pandemic. We aimed to synthesize the prevalence of the anxiety, depression, post-traumatic and general distress domain associated with virus epidemics since 2002. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase from 2002 to April 14, 2021 for peer-reviewed studies reporting prevalence of MHP in adults with laboratory-confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-1, H1N1, MERS-CoV, H7N9, Ebolavirus, or SARS-CoV-2 infection. We included studies that assessed post-viral MHP with validated and frequently used scales. A three-level random-effects meta-analysis for dependent effect sizes was conducted to account for multiple outcome reporting. We pooled MHP across all domains and separately by severity (above mild or moderate-to-severe) and by acute (one month), ongoing (one to three months), and post-illness stages (longer than three months). A meta-regression was conducted to test for moderating effects, particularly for exploring estimate differences between SARS-Cov-2 and previous pandemics and epidemics. PROSPERO registration: CRD42020194535. RESULTS: We identified 59 studies including between 14 and 1002 participants and providing 187 prevalence estimates. MHP, in general, decreased from acute to post-illness from 46.3% to 38.8% and for mild and moderate-to-severe from 22.3% to 18.8%, respectively. We found no evidence of moderating effects except for non-random sampling and H1N1 showing higher prevalence. There was a non-significant trend towards lower MHP for SARS-CoV-2 compared to previous epidemics. CONCLUSIONS: MHP prevalence estimates decreased over time but were still on a substantial level at post-illness. Post-viral mental health problems caused by SARS-CoV-2 could have been expected much earlier, given the previous post-viral sequelae.

Epidemisches Versagen: Warum Staaten und internationale Organisationen wiederholt bei der Bekämpfung von Epidemien scheitern

ZusammenfassungWarum haben Staaten und internationale Organisationen wiederholt bei der Epidemiebekämpfung versagt? Wir analysieren das Vorgehen währen der Ebolaepidemie und der SARS-CoV‑2-Pandemie. In beiden Fällen erfolgte die Reaktion im Rahmen eines Zyklus epidemischen Versagens (ZEV) mit folgenden Phasen: Vernachlässigung, Arroganz/Leugnung, Panik und Analyse/Selbstkritik. Zentrale Ursachen für den ZEV sind die Ökologie (v.a. die Vernachlässigung von Zoonosen), die Politik (v.a. negative Anreize bei der Epidemiebekämpfung), sozioökonomische Kontexte, die menschliche Psychologie (v.a. kognitive Verzerrungen) sowie erkenntnistheoretische Probleme (v.a. der Rückgriff auf die Erfahrungen früherer Epidemien).

War der Coronavirus-Lockdown notwendig? Versuch einer wissenschaftlichen Antwort

Schon unmittelbar nach Beginn des Corona-Lockdowns wurde über dessen Notwendigkeit diskutiert: War das Virus vielleicht doch "nur" eine harmlose Grippe? Wäre das "Schwedische Modell" eine realistische Alternative auch in anderen Ländern gewesen? Wieso hat die Politik in vielen Ländern das Risiko des größten Wirtschaftseinbruchs seit Jahrzehnten in Kauf genommen? Der Autor analysiert die Pandemie-Entwicklung im Frühjahr 2020 sowie deren Hintergründe und kommt zu dem Schluss: Die Maßnahmen wären nicht zwingend notwendig gewesen, aber länger zurückliegende Fehleinschätzungen und aktuelle gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen haben sie unvermeidlich gemacht.

The Epidemic Failure Cycle hypothesis: Towards understanding the global community's recent failures in responding to an epidemic.

BACKGROUND: Within a few years, the global community has failed twice in responding to large viral infection outbreaks: the Ebola epidemic in 2014 and the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic in 2020. There is, however, no systematic approach or research available that analyses the repeated failures with regard to an adequate response to an epidemic. METHODS: For a better understanding of failing societal responses, we have analysed the available research literature on societal responses to epidemics and we propose a framework called the 'Epidemic Failure Cycle' (EFC). RESULTS: The EFC consists of four phases: Negligence, Arrogance/Denial, Panic and Analysis/Self-criticism. These phases fit largely with the current World Health Organization pandemic influenza phases: Interpandemic, Alert, Pandemic, Transition. By utilizing the Ebola epidemic and the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic as case studies, we show striking similarities in the response to these outbreaks during both crises. Finally, we suggest three major areas to be of utmost importance for triggering and maintaining the EFC. In terms of ecology, zoonoses, supposed to be the main biological origin for virus epidemics, have been largely neglected by politicians, the media and the scientific community. Socioeconomic and cultural conditions such as harsh living and working conditions as well as conspiracy theories hinder effective preventive and counter measures against epidemics. Lastly, in terms of epistemology, the reliance on knowledge about previous outbreaks has led to slow and inadequate decisions. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that any current society has to be aware of the risks of repeating responses to epidemics that will fail. Being aware of the societal mechanisms that trigger inadequate responses may help to get to more appropriate decisions in the face of an epidemic.

[Loneliness during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-results of the German National Cohort (NAKO)]. / Einsamkeit während der ersten Welle der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie ­ Ergebnisse der NAKO-Gesundheitsstudie.

BACKGROUND: Early during the pandemic and the following protective countermeasures, an interest in the consequences of the enacted restriction of social contacts for the mental health of the population arose. Loneliness describes the perceived quality of one's own contacts and relationships with other individuals. Several prior studies reported associations of loneliness with different somatic and psychiatric disorders. AIM: To analyse the frequency of loneliness and its association with depression and anxiety symptoms in the first wave of the pandemic in Germany in May 2020. METHODS: The German National Cohort (NAKO) had recruited and examined 205,000 individuals aged 20 to 69 years in 18 study centres across Germany between 2014 and 2019. The follow-up examination was temporarily stopped due to the pandemic between March and July 2020. In this period a COVID-related questionnaire was developed and sent to all participants. We analysed the first 113,928 questionnaires that were sent back within four weeks in May 2020. Loneliness was assessed with the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and anxiety and depression symptoms were collected using the PHQ­9 and GAD­7 scales from the Patient Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the NAKO participants, 31.7% reported to be lonely in May 2020. Women and young adults reported more loneliness than men and older adults. With increasing scores of loneliness, the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms also steadily increased. Individuals who were lonely during the pandemic had already reported higher PHQ­9 and GAD­7 scores during the baseline examination on average 2.5 years earlier, compared to those who did not feel lonely. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants of the German National Cohort, we observed an increase in loneliness during the first wave of the SARS-CoV­2 pandemic in spring 2020 and a strong relationship of increasing loneliness with decreasing mental health.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluation of Socio-Economic Impact on Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Providers.

BACKGROUND: In many countries, the worldwide spread of COVID-19 has led to a near total stop of non-urgent, elective surgeries across all specialties during the first wave's peak of the pandemic. For providers of aesthetic surgery procedures or minimal invasive cosmetic treatments, this led to a huge socio-economic impact worldwide. In order to evaluate valid clinical management strategies for future pandemic events and to overcome the challenges imposed by the current pandemic, it is paramount to analyse the socio-economic effects caused by the COVID-19 crisis. METHODS: An online survey comprising 18 questions was sent out five times by e-mail to all members of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) between June and August 2020. The data set was statistically analyzed and grouped into an overall group and into subgroups of countries with high (n = 251) vs. low (n = 440) gross domestic product per capita (GDP p.c.) and five defined world regions (Europe (n = 214); North America (NA; n = 97); South America (SA; n = 206); Asia and Oceania (Asia + OC; n = 99); Africa and Middle East (Africa + ME; n = 75)). RESULTS: A total of 691 recipients completed the survey. The majority of the participants experienced severe operating restrictions resulting in a major drop of income from surgical patients. Low GDP p.c. countries experienced a bigger negative economic impact with less aesthetic (non-) surgical procedures, whereas the high GDP p.c. subgroup was less affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Most of the survey participants had already adopted the ISAPS guidelines for patient (pre-) appointment screening and clinical/patient-flow management. For surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures, in the high GDP p.c. subgroup more basic-level PPE (surgical mask) was used, whereas the low GDP p.c. subgroup relied more on advanced-level PPE (N-95 respirator mask or higher). Comparing the different world regions, Europe and Africa used more basic-level PPE. CONCLUSIONS: Measurable differences in the socio-economic impact and in the adaptation of safety protocols between high and low GDP p.c. subgroups and between different world regions were present. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is an international crisis, aligned, expedient and universal actions should be taken. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Mental health problems in the general population during and after the first lockdown phase due to the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic: rapid review of multi-wave studies.

AIMS: The SARS-Cov-2 pandemic and the lockdown response are assumed to have increased mental health problems in general populations compared to pre-pandemic times. The aim of this paper is to review studies on the course of mental health problems during and after the first lockdown phase. METHODS: We conducted a rapid review of multi-wave studies in general populations with time points during and after the first lockdown phase. Repeated cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that utilised validated instruments were included. The main outcome was whether indicators of mental health problems have changed during and after the first lockdown phase. The study was registered with PROSPERO No. CRD42020218640. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies with 56 indicators were included in the qualitative review. Studies that reported data from pre-pandemic assessments through lockdown indicated an increase in mental health problems. During lockdown, no uniform trend could be identified. After lockdown, mental health problems decreased slightly. CONCLUSIONS: As mental health care utilisation indicators and data on suicides do not suggest an increase in demand during the first lockdown phase, we regard the increase in mental health problems as general distress that is to be expected during a global health crisis. Several methodological, pandemic-related, response-related and health policy-related factors need to be considered when trying to gain a broader perspective on the impact of the first wave of the pandemic and the first phase of lockdown on general populations' mental health.

Prevalence of Mental Health Problems During Virus Epidemics in the General Public, Health Care Workers and Survivors: A Rapid Review of the Evidence.

Background: The swift spread of SARS-CoV-2 provides a challenge worldwide. As a consequence of restrictive public health measures like isolation, quarantine, and community containment, the provision of mental health services is a major challenge. Evidence from past virus epidemics and the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak indicate high prevalence rates of mental health problems (MHP) as short- and long-term consequences. However, a broader picture of MHP among different populations is still lacking. Methods: We conducted a rapid review on MHP prevalence rates published since 2000, during and after epidemics, including the general public, health care workers, and survivors. Any quantitative articles reporting on MHP rates were included. Out of 2,855 articles screened, a total of 74 were included in this review. Results: Most original studies on MHP were conducted in China in the context of SARS-CoV-1, and reported on anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms/disorder, general psychiatric morbidity, and psychological symptoms. The MHP rates across studies, populations, and epidemics vary substantially. While some studies show high and persistent rates of MHP in populations directly affected by isolation, quarantine, threat of infection, infection, or life-threatening symptoms (e.g., health care workers), other studies report minor effects. Furthermore, even less affected populations (e.g., distant to epidemic epicenter, no contact history with suspected or confirmed cases) can show high rates of MHP. Discussion: MHP vary largely across countries and risk-groups in reviewed studies. The results call attention to potentially high MHP during epidemics. Individuals affected directly by an epidemic might be at a higher risk of short or even long-term mental health impairments. This study delivers insights stemming from a wide range of psychiatric instruments and questionnaires. The results call for the use of validated and standardized instruments, reference norms, and pre-post measurements to better understand the magnitude of the MHP during and after the epidemics. Nevertheless, emerging MHP should be considered during epidemics including the provision of access to mental health care to mitigate potential mental impairments.

[COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health of the General Public: Is there a Tsunami of Mental Disorders?] / COVID-19-Pandemie trifft auf Psyche der Bevölkerung: Gibt es einen Tsunami psychischer Störungen?

The paper reviews and discusses short- and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for population mental health. The dynamics of short-term psychological reactions - such as anxiety, depression and distress - seem to follow directly the epidemiological dynamics of the outbreak. Although older individuals are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease course and death, psychological reactions seem to be more intense in younger individuals compared to the elderly. For long-term consequences, we do not have data yet. However, since the association between economic crises and population mental health is established, a recession-related increase in mental disorders is assumed. Mental health should be key concern in the management of the pandemic.