COVID-19 and Psychological Effects: A Review in Clinical Psychology Perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this review study is to examine the psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on individuals in different groups. When the literature is examined, it can be stated that this epidemic causes negative emotional reactions such as anxiety, fear, and anger in adults, increases stress levels, increases their susceptibility to psychological disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and causes suicidal thoughts and insomnia. It can be stated that fear and anxiety are experienced intensely in children and adolescents, anxiety disorders increase, and their parents need to make explanations appropriate to their children's cognitive levels to prevent these disorders. It is indicated that health workers struggling with the epidemic on the field have symptoms related to anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depressive disorders. They experience sleep disorders and their effective problem-solving skills decrease due to the stress and conflicts they experience. In the light of this information, it can be thought that it is important that health authorities and the media emphasize issues such as raising awareness about symptoms related to psychological disorders, activities that support psychological health, and the importance of receiving psychological support when necessary. In the last part of the study, it was aimed to make suggestions for future research about pandemic related psychological disorders in our country. In this context, it has been suggested that studies can be carried out related to exposure to traumatic contents in the media, curfew, how being in certain age groups affect individuals, the effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention interventions and various psychological interventions, and the effective use of social support mechanisms in the pandemic process. Keywords COVID-19, psychological effects, psychological disorders, clinical psychology, post traumatic stress disorder

COVID-19 Pandemisinin Psikiyatrik Tanı Almış Bireyler Üzerindeki Etkisi: Sağlık Kaygısı, Baş Etme Stratejileri ve Psikolojik İyi Oluş

“…With the increased numbers of reported cases and deaths, COVID-19 studies have gained increasing attention from researchers in Turkey, as elsewhere. Studies conducted during COVID-19 in Turkey have focused on various types of topics, including scale adaptation (e.g., Atak & Yalcinkaya-Alkar, 2022;Ay et al, 2022;Karaköse & Akçinar, 2021a), psychological resilience (e.g., Bilge & Bilge, 2020;Kocakaya & Harmancı, 2022), preventive health behaviors (Alper et al, 2021;Karaköse & Akçinar, 2021b), and psychological well-being (e.g., Bekaroğlu & Yılmaz, 2020;Yıldırım & Güler, 2022). A recent review has stated that it is important to investigate how people with mental illnesses are affected by the pandemic as a result of increases in health anxiety and fear of infection.…”

“…A recent review has stated that it is important to investigate how people with mental illnesses are affected by the pandemic as a result of increases in health anxiety and fear of infection. Thus, it is suggested to conduct screening studies for preventing recurrence or increase in the severity of psychological symptoms during the pandemic (Bekaroğlu & Yılmaz (2020). However, to the author's knowledge, there is no single study in Turkey examining the association between health anxiety, coping strategies, and the current mental health status using people diagnosed with mental illnesses.…”

Identifying the Levels of COVID-19 Fear, Perceived Stress, and Psychological Resilience of the University Students Enrolled at the Health Programs

“…It was stated that the sudden change in life due to the pandemic and the measures taken alongside the pandemic caused the individuals and societies to have psychological problems such as fear, worry, and stress (2,3). The feeling of fear experienced due to the pandemic had moderate and severe psychological effects on people (4)(5)(6)(7). The feeling of fear that emerges as a response to a real or perceived threat is one of the most prevalent consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (8).…”

“…To control the spread of the pandemic, the distance education model was implemented instead of face-to-face instruction in Turkey as of 23 March 2020 (10). In this process, university students are faced with certain restrictions related to the change in their daily lives, distance education, academic delays, and social life (4,11). In the relevant literature, it was identified that the university students felt fear, intolerance for uncertainty (12,13), stress (14) anxiety (11), and loneliness (15) in association with the COVID-19 pandemic.…”