Mitigating the psychological effects of social isolation during the covid-19 pandemic

Mental Health and the SARS-COV-2 Epidemic—Polish Research Study

“…The American Psychiatric Association (APA) estimates that the negative impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the human psyche will be observed in nearly 50% of the population [ 18 ]. These symptoms may appear even several months after the lifting of the strictest limitations and restrictions [ 19 ]. A study conducted in the United States after the end of the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) epidemic indicated a four times higher risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms in quarantined children compared to their non-quarantined peers [ 20 ].…”

Covid-19: social distancing or social isolation?

“…There is a short path from social distancing to social isolation. Studies have found that social isolation is associated with increased risk of inactivity, smoking, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet, depression, introversion, poor social skills, and post-traumatic stress disorder leading to greater risks of cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and premature mortality, especially in elderly people 12…”

“…A meta-review reported that interventions that were found useful incorporated promotion of accessibility and acceptability of care, ongoing contact, use of trusted local providers, family involvement, and economic benefits 5. Interventions include screening for isolation, counselling, emotional disclosures, physical activity promotion, maintaining social interaction and social prescribing, and using digital support with access to the internet and smartphones 2. Specific interventions for resource limited countries include better use of digital technology leading to better point-of-care services in rural and urban areas, treatment compliance, disease surveillance, data collection, and appropriate distant health education 2.…”

“…Interventions include screening for isolation, counselling, emotional disclosures, physical activity promotion, maintaining social interaction and social prescribing, and using digital support with access to the internet and smartphones 2. Specific interventions for resource limited countries include better use of digital technology leading to better point-of-care services in rural and urban areas, treatment compliance, disease surveillance, data collection, and appropriate distant health education 2. We think that social cohesion while maintaining physical distancing—not social distancing—is the way forward for the covid-19 pandemic.…”

The SARS-CoV-2 Crisis: Has Medicine Finally Entered a Reductionist Era?

“…In a second and third step of applying systems thinking to the SARS-CoV-2 crisis, the analysis of the data collected from various sources would depend on their rapid dissemination and transdisciplinary science [4]. Exam-DOI: 10.1159/000510453 ples for transdisciplinary science include research into the modulation of COVID-19 risk and disease severity through nutrients such as vitamin D [10] ("nutritional immunology") or research into the effects of media-driven "angst campaigns" and quarantining measures on mental health and the immune system ("psychoneuroendocrinology") [11][12][13]. It also involves balancing benefits and harms in patient treatment and public health policies by recognizing and weighting insights from different medical systems, i.e., evolutionary, evidence-based, personalized, value-driven, and complementary medicine [14].…”