The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health of People with Mental Disorders

The aim of the review was to analyze published studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health status (mental and physical) of people with mental disorders. Materials and methods: by keywords "COVID-19”, "depressive disorders”, "affective disorders”, "schizophrenia”, "anxiety disorders” search for papers in English and Russian in the databases MEDLINE/ PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, eLibrary for the period from 2017 to 2022 was carried out. Conclusion: the analysis of published works has demonstrated that factors such as social distancing, isolation, or changing the availability of medical services can have a signifi cant infl uence on the health of people with mental disorders. It has been established that people suffering from mental illness are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, they have less effective post-vaccination immunity and have a more severe course of the disease. The past coronavirus infection can lead to both an increase in pre-existing symptoms of a mental disorder, and the emergence of new ones. Possible physiological mechanisms of mental disorders after past COVID-19 include a wide range of pathogenetic processes: from prolonged systemic infl ammation of varying intensity to vascular microthrombosis and neurodegenerative changes. Cognitive impairment during COVID-19, associated with damage to brain structures by the virus, may exacerbate existing psychopathological symptoms. The special features of psychopathological symptoms that develop in response to a pandemic situation are closely related to the structure of the previous mental status of patients, and therefore the types of psychosocial assistance needed is different for people with various mental disorders. © 2023, Psychiatry (Moscow). All Rights Reserved.

[Dynamics of psychopathological symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia]. / Dinamika psikhopatologicheskoi simptomatiki vo vremya pandemii COVID-19 v Rossii.

OBJECTIVE: The results of the analysis of psychopathological symptom dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study uses the data of the Internet survey, which included a block of sociodemographic questions and the SCL-90-R symptomatic questionnaire. Nine hundred and eight responses received from 22.03.20 to 22.06.20 were analysed. The change in the responses over time was assessed: 3 periods of time were allocated, associated with the change in countermeasures to the pandemic in Russia. In addition, the change in the values of the SCL-90 parameters was assessed depending on the existence of respondent's acquaintances infected with the coronavirus. RESULTS: It was shown that SCL-90 symptoms (Somatization, Depression, Obsession, all integral parameters, including the Global Severity Index) increased from 22.03.20 to 22.06.20. With infected people appearing in the respondent's environment psychopathological symptoms increase. The growth of hostility, sensitivity and anxiety is associated with a personal experience of a danger of the pandemic, which intensifies when infected persons appear in the immediate environment. CONCLUSION: The increase in psychopathological symptoms after the mitigation or cancellation of the quarantine restrictions suggests the persistence of long-term consequences.

TARGETS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO INCREASED ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the level of everyday stress, leading to an increase in alcohol consumption by part of the population. The purpose of this work was to identify targets of psychological assistance for people who increased alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted from 22.03.2020 to 06.05.2020 as an anonymous online survey in which 927 persons took part. The study included sociodemographic data, a question regarding the change in alcohol consumption in the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the SCL-90-R, the COPE Inventory, and the Constructive Thinking Inventory. For statistical analysis, we used ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test. The data indicated that 96 of the respondents increased alcohol use, 831 did not change or even decreased alcohol consumption. The following targets for work were identified based on the results obtained: 1) working to reduce the subjective stressfulness of the situation by support in overcoming rigid attitudes towards oneself, others and the situation and by help in developing greater flexibility;2) widening the range of available constructive coping strategies;3) working to reduce interpersonal sensitivity, training constructive communication skills and seeking social support;4) planning for the future in conditions of high uncertainty;5) preventive activity in epidemic foci. Пандемия COVID-19 резко увеличила уровень повседневного стресса, что привело к увеличению употребления алкоголя частью населения. Цель работы - выявление мишеней психологической помощи людям, увеличившим употребление алкоголя в ходе пандемии COVID-19. Материалом стали данные интернет-опроса, проведенного с 22.03.2020 по 6.05.2020, в котором приняли участие 927 человек. Опрос включал в себя социодемографический блок, вопрос относительно изменения употребления алкоголя в пандемию COVID-19, а также методики SCL-90-R, COPE, ОКМ-97. Для статистического анализа использовались метод ANOVA, критерий Манна-Уитни, критерий chi2. На основе полученных результатов выявлены следующие мишени работы: 1) снижение субъективной стрессогенности ситуации за счет поддержки в преодолении ригидных установок в отношении себя, других и ситуации, и помощь в развитии большей гибкости;2) расширение диапазона доступных в долгосрочной перспективе более конструктивных стратегий совладания со стрессом;3) работа по снижению межличностной сенситивности, обучению навыкам конструктивного взаимодействия с окружающими и обращению за социальной поддержкой;4) планирование будущего в условиях высокой неопределенности;5) профилактическая работа в очагах эпидемии.