Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a Physician Assistant After Working in an ICU During COVID-19.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: We present a case report of a physician assistant who experiences posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from providing care to patients affected with COVID-19. We believe this case is important as it will reveal the unfortunate impact COVID-19 has on the mental health of health care professionals. CASE PRESENTATION A 51-year-old White woman presented to our clinic with a 1-year history of panic attacks, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, social withdrawal, guilt, and depression. DISCUSSION: Cross-sectional, survey-based studies have highlighted PTSD rates in health care workers during the pandemic, but these studies have not explored how exactly PTSD presents on the individual level. CONCLUSIONS: This case presents a compelling reflection on what could be a larger trend of increasing mental health issues as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the need for better mental health support and infrastructure to be in place for the well-being of the health care workers in this country.