COVID-19 Pandemic: Stress and Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

The epidemic, which first started as viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019 and is now known as Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). rapidly spread to almost every part of the world and named a pandemic in March 2020. It is well known that psychiatric symptoms and syndromes, especially posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders reach high prevalence values in natural or man-made disasters, Especially in infectious disease epidemics where mortality rates are high, patients, those who arc quarantined, and the whole society experience very intense mental stress and trauma. It is not easy to avoid psychological distress after facing highly fatal illnesses such as Ebola, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), or COVID-19. When pandemics turn into a rapid and global disaster, the prevalence values of mental problems reach even higher levels. Combating mental disorders not only provides psychological well-being but also affects the course of the epidemic, as these disorders can delay efforts to fight epidemics.

Mental health complaints increase in healthcare workers as a result of the stress and trauma of working during the epidemic. Studies report that during the SARS epidemic, approximately one-fifth of healthcare workers experienced 'significant mental disorders'. Medical professionals who develop mental disorders will be less productive, which will weaken the fight against the epidemic. Therefore, it is very important to support healthcare professionals.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak is a relatively recent disaster, epidemiological study results have not yet been published sufficiently. However, the results of serious epidemics caused by viruses such as SARS and Ebola have previously been published. In this review, information about the psychiatric morbidity expected after COVID-19 is reviewed in the light of the results of studies conducted mainly in previous virus epidemics.