Impact of Quarantine on Psychological and Psychosocial Aspects in Individual and Health Care Staff

Abstract

Even a thought for an outbreak of an infectious disease provokes unwarranted panic and emotional distress in population causing development of negative impacts on psychological and psychosocial parameters of an individual. So, in case of any real epidemic/pandemic outbreak the normal psychological and psychosocial parameters start getting affected gradually which rise in amplitude as time pass while the disease is in air. Immediately, starts the phase of stress and fear of either being a carrier or a healthy individual who will have to live a compromised life for a particular duration. Previous studies have shown quarantine period to grimly affect individuals along with their health care providers which can even go along for the coming years. These impacts if controlled by early execution of strategies through governmental, administrative and social bodies working resourcefully and effectively can reduce the distress before being amplified. The present paper outlines the negative impacts of quarantine on psychological and psychosocial domain in individuals put in quarantine along with health staff engaged in their treatment. In addition, the article also narrates and suggests recommendations after reviewing articles from reputed database published following the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS CoV) with added suggestions in reducing the effects during and after quarantine.