Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with pre-existing mood disorders

Abstract

Objective: The unprecedented occurrence of a global pandemic is accompanied by both physical and psychological burdens that may impair quality of life. Research relating to COVID-19 aims to determine the effects of the pandemic on vulnerable populations who are at high risk of developing negative health or psychosocial outcomes. Having an ongoing medical condition during a pandemic may lead to greater psychological distress. Increased psychological distress may be due to preventative public health measures (e.g. lockdown), having an ongoing medical condition, or a combination of these factors. Methods: This study analyses data from an online cross-sectional national survey of adults in Ireland and investigates the relationship between comorbidity and psychological distress. Those with a medical condition (n=128) were compared to a control group without a medical condition (n=128) and matched according to age, gender, annual income, education, and work status during COVID-19. Participants and data were obtained during the first public lockdown in Ireland (27.03.2020–08.06.2020). Results: Individuals with existing medical conditions reported significantly higher levels of anxiety (p<.01) and felt less gratitude (p≤.001). Exploratory analysis indicates that anxiety levels were significantly associated with illness perceptions specific to COVID-19. Post-hoc analysis reveal no significant difference between the number of comorbidities and condition type (e.g. respiratory disorders). Conclusion: This research supports individualised supports for people with ongoing medical conditions through the COVID-19 pandemic, and has implications for the consideration of follow-up care specifically for mental health. Findings may also inform future public health policies and post-vaccine support strategies for vulnerable populations.

A longitudinal evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a cohort of patients treated with clozapine

“…Studies in individuals without pre-existing mental health disorders (including in Ireland) in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic note an increase in psychiatric pathology, including higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms (Wang et al, 2020;Hyland et al 2020). We previously demonstrated a relatively modest deleterious psychological impact of COVID-19 for individuals with pre-existing anxiety disorders (Plunkett et al 2020;Hennigan et al 2021) and bipolar disorder (McLoughlin et al 2021) with social functioning most impacted; however, individuals with a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder demonstrated greater symptomatology (McLoughlin et al 2021). Relatively limited research to date has assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with pre-existing treatment-resistant psychotic disorders.…”

Joint European policy on the COVID-19 risks for people with mental disorders: An umbrella review and evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for mental and public health

“…Adequate resources (such as PCR testing, masks, disinfectants etc) should be made available to mental healthcare facilities [54]. In general, lockdowns should be avoided: psychiatric patients, and their families, may benefit from regular contact with the outside world, whereas prolonged home confinement may increase the levels of distress and social isolation, also worsening psychiatric symptomatology [55][56][57][58]. Regarding potential future pandemics, a solid effort should ensure that people with mental health disorders, and their families, receive sufficient support to maintain optimal well-being.…”

Borderline Personality Disorder During Covid-19 Pandemic

“…Behavior Therapy (DBT) (Linehan et al, 1993), Schema-Focused Therapy (SFT), 20 and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) [21], in addition to other shorter skills-based group treatment sessions, the availability of which has been increasingly challenging since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 21,22 Thirty years have elapsed since the creation of Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), which was originally intended to treat patients with BPD, but is now being used to treat a variety of other psychiatric disorders. According to the mentalization approach to BPD, impairments in social cognition, namely a weakened ability to understand oneself and others in terms of mental processes, play a significant role in the development of the condition and its manifestation.…”