How does the coronavirus influence mental health?

A reflection on the psychological impact of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus on mental health.

These days we are witnessing (or protagonists) of a pandemic of a new virus that has been called SARS-CoV-2.. The media are reporting about the physical and behavioral implications in the different infected countries.

All of Italy is under quarantine. In Spain, schools and nursing homes have been closed, and people are advised to stay home. We know that it is not a deadly virus, except for certain population groups; that the symptoms are similar to those of a flu; that it affects more the elderly; and that there is no vaccine. We talk about the work-life balance, the economic impact and the number of people infected in every part of the world.

But what about the psychological impact? what about the psychological impact? Are there mental health implications caused by the virus?

The psychological impact of SARS-CoV-2.

Covid19 does not alter people's mental health; but studies conducted in the wake of the 2003 SARS epidemic indicate that quarantine and collective psychosis do produce psychological alterations. Twenty percent of those infected by this virus were healthcare personnel.

A study was conducted with healthcare personnel from all types of Beijing during the three years following the SARS outbreak in 2003. These people had either been in a hospital considered high-risk, or had undergone quarantine, or had been the victim of a family member's death from the virus. It was found that 10% had suffered high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and, within this group, 40% were still suffering from PTSD.40% were still suffering from PTSD 3 years later.

Another study was conducted with health care workers in Toronto during the 2003 crisis, when the situation was critical, as several hospitals had been closed due to a lack of employees because they were infected and quarantined. It turned out that 29% of the workers scored high for emotional distress, twice as high as the general adult population in the country the previous year.

These findings are consistent with SARS studies in Taiwan, where more than 75% of employees experienced psychiatric problems (Dr. Mian-Yoon Chong, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 2004). In Singapore, more than 21% of employees had psychiatric disturbances..

Within the general population, 40% of the sample of an investigation conducted in Hong Kong with survivors suffered from an active psychiatric illness. The most common were depression, chronic fatigue and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In most research, suffering from a psychological disorder such as PTSD was directly mediated by the perception of risk of death and the belief of stigmatization (for working as healthcare personnel) among other things. This means that we can avoid to some extent developing psychiatric problems if we follow a series of professional recommendations to protect our mental health.

Recommendations for maintaining emotional balance in the face of the coronavirus

The Official College of Psychologists of Madrid has published a series of recommendations to protect our mental health. to protect our mental health addressed to those non-infected, vulnerable non-infected and infected by Covid19.

Among the guidelines recommended are:

• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Avoid continually talking about the subject.
• Over-information (it will be necessary to turn off the TV; The Official College of Psychologists of Madrid recommends seeking information contrasted by experts and in official channels such as the Ministry of Health).

Other recommendations may be:

• Look for individual and collective entertainment (with the whole family living in the same space). Nowadays technology can help us a lot because we can keep in touch with friends and family through the Internet.
• Doing what we never have time to do: tidying up the house, cleaning thoroughly, redecorating the house...
• Share time with our sons/daughters...
• Consult truthful and official sources of information, avoiding speculative or alarmist messages.

On the other hand, there are people who are not taking measures; therefore, it is also recommended not to trivialize it is also recommended not to trivialize the situation, especially in the case of groups of young people.It is also recommended not to trivialize the situation, especially in the case of groups at risk; take care and be prudent.

Autora: Susana Merino García: Psicóloga Especialista en Psicopatología, Intervención Clínica y Salud.

Referencias bibliográficas:

• Nickell LA, Crighton EJ, Tracy CS, et al. Psychosocial effects of SARS on hospital staff: survey of a large tertiary care institution. CMAJ. 2004;170(5):793 - 798.
• Sim K, Chua HC. The psychological impact of SARS: a matter of Heart and mind. CMAJ. 2004;170(5): 811– 812.
• Wu P., Fang Y., Guan Z., Fan B., Kong J., Yao Z., & Hoven C. W. (2009). The psychological impact of the SARS epidemic on hospital employees in China: Exposure, risk perception, and altruistic acceptance of risk. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 54(5), 302–311.
• Ho-Bun. M, et al. (2003). Archives of Internal Medicine, December 14-28.