Johanna G Winkler1, Dario Jalilzadeh Masah2, James Kenneth Moran3, Joachim Bretz2, Ioannis Tsagkas2, Thomas Goldschmidt2, Meryam Schouler-Ocak2. 1. Psychiatrische Institutsambulanz der Charité im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Deutschland. johanna.winkler@charite.de. 2. Psychiatrische Institutsambulanz der Charité im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Große Hamburger Str. 5-11, 10115, Berlin, Deutschland. 3. Research Group Multisensory Integration der Charité im St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the COVID-19 disease and the rapid spread of the inducing coronavirus SARS-CoV‑2 threatens not only people's physical health but also their mental health. Its influence on incidence and course of existing illnesses in the psychiatric outpatient sector in Germany is still unknown. METHODS: The medical reports of 682 persons in psychiatric treatment were retrospectively investigated, regarding their subjective response to this pandemic and its clinical relevance. RESULTS: Of the patients 60.5% (n = 378) experienced greater psychological stress, 14.5% (n = 99) reported fear of the SARS-CoV‑2 and the possible danger of infection, 25.5% (n = 174) reported fear resulting from the protective measures taken (lock down) and 4.3% (n = 29) reported fear of both. This differed significantly across diagnoses: people with anxiety disorders reported significantly greater stress as well as greater fear of the virus, whereas people with psychoses were significantly less affected than the other patients. Of the participants 43.7% (n = 132) were so strongly affected that acute treatment had to be implemented and 6.0% (n = 18) had to be referred to inpatient care. DISCUSSION: People with mental illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the psychological strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. Long-term studies on the further course of disease will be necessary. Additional studies that test interventions to build resilience in this population will also be needed.
BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the COVID-19 disease and the rapid spread of the inducing coronavirus SARS-CoV‑2 threatens not only people's physical health but also their mental health. Its influence on incidence and course of existing illnesses in the psychiatric outpatient sector in Germany is still unknown. METHODS: The medical reports of 682 persons in psychiatric treatment were retrospectively investigated, regarding their subjective response to this pandemic and its clinical relevance. RESULTS: Of the patients 60.5% (n = 378) experienced greater psychological stress, 14.5% (n = 99) reported fear of the SARS-CoV‑2 and the possible danger of infection, 25.5% (n = 174) reported fear resulting from the protective measures taken (lock down) and 4.3% (n = 29) reported fear of both. This differed significantly across diagnoses: people with anxiety disorders reported significantly greater stress as well as greater fear of the virus, whereas people with psychoses were significantly less affected than the other patients. Of the participants 43.7% (n = 132) were so strongly affected that acute treatment had to be implemented and 6.0% (n = 18) had to be referred to inpatient care. DISCUSSION: People with mental illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the psychological strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. Long-term studies on the further course of disease will be necessary. Additional studies that test interventions to build resilience in this population will also be needed.
Authors: Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit; Verena Mayr; Andreea Iulia Dobrescu; Gernot Wagner; Andrea Chapman; Lisa M Pfadenhauer; Szimonetta Lohner; Stefan K Lhachimi; Laura K Busert; Gerald Gartlehner Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-10-06
Authors: Yann David Kippe; Maia Adam; Anna Finck; James Kenneth Moran; Meryam Schouler-Ocak; Felix Bermpohl; Stefan Gutwinski; Thomas Goldschmidt Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2022-09-07 Impact factor: 5.760
Authors: James K Moran; Joachim Bretz; Johanna Winkler; Stefan Gutwinski; Eva J Brandl; Meryam Schouler-Ocak Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-05-28 Impact factor: 5.435