ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has caused havoc in the lives of doctors. The doctors were faced with the Herculean task of managing a variety of patients, dealing with the queries of their loved ones, keeping up with the ever-changing guidelines, while balancing the worries of their own families, and facing the risk of contracting the infection themselves or transmitting it to their loved ones. Bearing this in mind, the present study was undertaken to assess the impact of gender in causing depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances between male and female doctors during COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional, analytical, web-based study was conducted during September 2020, after obtaining approval of Institutional Ethics Committee. All participants gave informed consent. The participants completed basic socio demographic questionnaire, and two standardized questionnaires-Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS21) and Athens Insomnia Scale. Out of 143 doctors included in the study, 83 were females (58.04%), while 60 were males (41.96%). On DASS-21, depression and stress was significantly higher in female doctors as compared to male doctors. On the Athens Insomnia Scale, more female doctors suffered from insomnia as compared to male doctors, but the difference was not statistically significant. Female doctors have significantly higher depression and stress while dealing with COVID-19 compared to male doctors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Background: Viral infections of respiratory affects Central Nervous system (CNS), precipitating a spectrum of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Some patients with COVID-19 develop various CNS abnormalities with serious long term consequences. Aim: To study neuro-psychiatric manifestations in post COVID-19 RT-PCR positive patients. Materials and Methods: 100 consecutive patients of all age groups were taken as cases who were COVID-19 RT-PCR positive, in a duration of 12 months. The neurological symptoms, MRI findings and CSF findings of the cases were recorded. Subjects were assessed with scales Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mental Health Inventory (MHI), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale -5- Item Version (MFIS-5). Results: On MHI scale, 28.6% of the cases were diagnosed as Depression and 16.32% of the cases were diagnosed as Anxiety. On MFIS-5 scale, 14.9% of the cases were found to have sleep disorders and Fatigue. Positive MRI Brain findings were present in 1.2% cases. No neuro- psychiatric manifestations were found in 38.98% cases after recovery from COVID. Conclusion: In the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychiatric manifestations are common and neurological findings are also found in some cases. Attention to neuropsychiatric consequences of COVID-19 might help in early identification and better management.
ABSTRACT
Background: Widespread outbreaks of COVID-19 are associated with symptoms of psychological distress in the patients. Apart from physical and economic, this disease has taken a huge mental and emotional toll on the patients, their caretakers, family and the health care workers. Aim: To assess the psychological impact on hospitalised patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. Materials and Methods: All adult patients above the age of 18 years with RTPCR confirmed diagnosis of COVID 19 admitted in our COVID Hospital were included in the study after obtaining informed consent. Patients requiring ICU were excluded. They were assessed with a self made Socio demographic proforma, Depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS 21) and Psycho Social Assessment (PSA) score for COVID-19. Results: 40 % of the patients showed significant psychological impact which was predicted using the scales. In this study, female gender, being a student, presence of physical symptoms, comorbid illnesses, contact history were associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. Further results will be presented heneforth. Conclusion: Social isolation, hospitalisation, financial insecurity, and being more susceptible to COVID-19 infections are associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Psychological crisis interventions targeting the high risk populations with heavy psychological stress should come up to reduce the negative psychosocial impact on public mental health.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Doctors are more vulnerable to the negative effects of the COVID 19 pandemic than the general population due to direct contact with patients causing an increase in levels of anxiety and compromising resilience by isolation and risk to family members. This study aims to explore the anxiety, resilience, and coping among health care professionals. AIM: To compare the coping strategies, anxiety, and resilience in doctors caring and not caring for COVID 19 patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary care center from September 2020 to September 2021. A written informed consent was obtained for participation in the study from all doctors recruited for the study after explaining the purpose and design of the study. By purposive sampling a total of 100 doctors were recruited in the study after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: The mean Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Brief COPE, Connor – Davidson Resilience Scale scores in doctors treating COVID 19 patients was significantly more than the respective scores for doctors not treating COVID 19. CONCLUSION: The doctors treating COVID 19 patients had more anxiety as compared to doctors not treating COVID 19 patients, whereas doctors not treating COVID 19 patients had better coping and resilience as compared to doctors treating COVID19 patients.
ABSTRACT
"Necessity is the mother of invention:" An adage was brought to life with the emergence of the mRNA vaccine against the backdrop of the foreboding and mercurial COVID-19 pandemic. Considering a negligible adverse-effect profile and a break-neck manufacturing speed, it shone bright as the ideal vaccine candidate. However, "all that glitters is not gold," as was evidenced by the significant reactogenicity, a host of multi-systemic side-effects, that are being reported by the vaccine recipients; which is palpably resulting in a shift of emotions for the vaccine, accounting for vaccine hesitancy. Anaphylaxis, antibody-dependent enhancements, and deaths, comprise the most serious side-effects, albeit occurring in sparing numbers. Storage and transportation require fastidious temperatures, rendering it substantially inaccessible to a country like India. The biggest jolt, however, was the unfolding of the biases in reporting vaccine efficacy, as only the attractively high numbers of the relatively equivocal relative risk reduction were reported while keeping at bay the meager numbers of the more forthright absolute risk reduction. Notwithstanding the fallacies, the mRNA vaccine still promises hope; and with the right precautions and finesse, can be potentiated, as "a watched pot never boils."
ABSTRACT
From the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, concerns have been raised about its effect on mental health and on patients with psychiatric illnesses. A few reports suggest that patients with COVID-19 have increased symptoms of anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, increased substance use, and insomnia. There is an increased trend seen in flare-up of psychotic symptoms and new emergence of psychotic symptoms in previously healthy adults. There is extensive research available on the impact of COVID-19 on physical health, but there is a paucity of studies on the effects of COVID-19 on psychiatric illness.
ABSTRACT
Quarantine is an age old methods of preventing the spread of infection by restricting the movement of persons or goods. It has again come to global attention due to its widespread implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the public health utility of quarantine is well established, it is associated with few psychological effects which are neither well known nor recognized. In this communication, the psychological side-effects of quarantine and their prevention are briefly discussed.
ABSTRACT
A number of incurable, deadly, and disfiguring diseases are associated with stigma which worsens the quality of life of the sufferer. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease was associated with severe stigma and extreme prejudice. Stigma of COVID-19 and its adverse effects are briefly discussed and solutions suggested.
ABSTRACT
A public health emergency of international concern, novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Since then, it has been caused a pandemic along with serious mental health problems. No other disorder is more vulnerable to the current situation than obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Our case series focuses on the effects of COVID-19 on OCD along with its various manifestations. Most of our patients had exacerbated symptoms during the current situation, but there were also new onset OCD cases triggered by a variety of stressors.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered our life. Doctors more so than the general public because of their involvement in managing the COVID-infected individuals, some of them 24/7 end in burnout. Burnout in doctors can lead to reduced care of patients, increased medical errors, and poor health. Burnout among frontline health-care workers has become a major problem in this ongoing epidemic. On the other hand, doctors in preclinical department have a lack of interaction with patients, with not much nonclinical professional work to boot, find the profession less gratifying which perhaps increase their stress level. AIM: The aim was to study the prevalence of burnout and measure resilience in doctors in clinical and in preclinical departments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational, cross-sectional, comparative study was carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital and COVID care center. By purposive sampling 60 preclinical and 60 clinical doctors in a tertiary health care center were included in the study. After obtaining the Institutional Ethics Committee approval and informed consent, the doctors were administered a self made socio-demographic questionnaire, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Doctors were given a self-made questionnaire, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of burnout was seen more in clinical doctors (55.47) and the resilience was observed more in preclinical doctors (88.9). DISCUSSION: Resident doctors are a major force to combat COVID-19 as frontline health workers; hence, one can visualize burnout amongst them. On an individual basis, the work-related burnout was severely high in the clinical group owing to the workload which has been corresponding to a number of western studies. Nonclinical department doctors from pathology, community medicine, and microbiology did show burnout but showed a greater score in resilience. Psychological resilience has been identified as a component in preventing burnout. CONCLUSION: Therapy sessions can be used in clinical doctors facing burnout to build up their resilience.
ABSTRACT
AIM: We aimed to assess the consequences of dealing with patients during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period on the mental state of health-care workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous online survey was conducted with 353 participants using a self-made questionnaire comparing the prevalence of low mood, apprehension, tension, and coping skills used and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. The data were analyzed to compare the mental health of male and female doctors. To identify predictors of mental health outcomes, a multivariate logistic regression was carried out. RESULTS: Both men and women were almost equally affected in terms of developing features of low mood, with easy physical and mental exhaustion. While the feeling of being isolated and irritability was slightly higher in females, both sexes were equally affected by the media. It was observed that the prevalence of smoking (tobacco/marijuana, etc.) had increased in both with slightly higher percentage in males as compared to females while there was a considerable increase in caffeine and alcohol consumption in males. The sleeping pattern and appetite were equally affected in both sexes. The sexual drive was also altered in both male and female residents, but the change was considerably more in males. The significant predictors of anxiety were age, depression, mental exhaustion, burden of increased quantity of work, and feeling of having no choice but to work due to obligation. CONCLUSION: Both male and female doctors working during the COVID-19 pandemic developed anxiety and depression. While substance use and altered sexual drive were more in males, exhaustion and stress were more in females.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has posed a remarkable threat to mental health all around the world. This pandemic has increased the incidence of common as well as severe mental illness (SMI) all around the world. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report 10 cases presenting to the psychiatric outpatient department (OPD) of Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, from August to October 2020. They were either referred by other departments (3 patients) or came primarily to psychiatric OPD (7). RESULTS: Five out of these 10 cases presented with predominant psychotic features; 3 cases had predominant obsessive-compulsive features; and 1 case was of dissociative trance possession. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 can affect the psychopathology of both types of patients either with preexisting mental illness as well as new-onset SMI.
ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of the study is to assess and compare depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances among doctors and general population during COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, analytical, case-control, web-based study was conducted during September 2020 to examine the impact of pandemic on mental health. The participants completed basic sociodemographic questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). RESULTS: Of the 321 participants, 320 provided basic data, 22 were on psychotropics. Out of the 298, 286 were matched for age and sex and were included. On DASS-21, 41.27% of doctors and 30.76% of general population reported depression; 40.56% doctors and 26.57% general population had anxiety; 38.46% of the doctors and 24.48% of general population reported stress. Statistical analysis revealed that doctors had significantly higher levels of anxiety and stress as compared to general population. On the AIS, more doctors (48.25%) suffered from insomnia compared to the general population (37.06%), but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Physicians have significantly higher anxiety and stress while dealing with COVID-19 compared to general population.