Perceived Impact of Covid-19 Across Different Mental Disorders: A Study on Disorder-Specific Symptoms, Psychosocial Stress and Behavior

Abstract

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has plunged countries across the world into crisis. Both in the general population and in specific subgroups such as infected people or health care workers, studies have reported increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. However, the reactions of individuals with mental disorders to Covid-19 have largely been neglected. The present study therefore aimed to investigate the perceived impact of Covid-19 and its psychological consequences on people with mental disorders. In this online survey, participants were asked to evaluate their disorder-specific symptoms, perceived psychosocial stress and behaviors related to Covid-19 in the current situation and retrospectively before the spread of Covid-19. The study included participants with self-identified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder and agoraphobia (PA), illness anxiety disorder (IA), social anxiety disorder (SAD), depression (DP), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), eating disorders (ED), schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (SP), other non-specified mental disorder (other) as well as mentally healthy controls (HC). The results of bayesian parameter estimation suggest that the symptom severity of DP, GAD, IA and BDD has deteriorated as a reaction to Covid-19. Across all mental disorders and HC, self-reported psychosocial stress levels were higher during the outbreak of Covid-19 compared to before. A reduced frequency of social contacts and grocery shopping was found for all participants. People with self-identified mental disorders showed higher personal worries about Covid-19 and a higher fear of contagion with Covid-19 than did HC. According to our findings, Covid-19 may reinforce symptom severity and psychosocial stress in individuals with mental disorders. In times of pandemics, special support is needed to assist people with mental disorders and to prevent symptom deterioration.

Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Adolescent Patients with Anorexia Nervosa: A Qualitative Interview Study Involving Adolescents and Parents

“…Emerging evidence suggests that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a significant impact on the mental health of the entire population, with individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders, such as eating disorders, being a particular vulnerable group [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Several studies that primarily involved adult patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) in outpatient treatment indicate that eating disorder symptoms increased during the COVID-19 confinement.…”

Psychopathological Impact and Resilient Scenarios in Inpatient with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Related to Covid Physical Distancing Policies: A Systematic Review

“…In the study by Hannah L. Quittkat et al [ 16 ] the focus was on the psychological consequences COVID-19 had on all mental disorders.…”

“…Regarding the study by Hannah L. Quittkat et al [ 16 ], the authors point out that the study has limitations related to the small sample, consisting of only six individuals with schizophrenia. However, also in this case were found higher levels of stress and changes in behaviors related to hygiene (all groups take more time to wash their hands), shopping (reduced weekly frequency of shopping) and reduced social contacts.…”

“…Moreover, as the authors of the articles also suggest, subsequent longitudinal studies will be essential to verify, in the long-term, the consequences of the pandemic period. In addition, it must also be taken into account the reference sample that, in the case of the research of Hannah L. Quittkat et al [ 16 ], represents only 0.27% of the total number of participants (six subjects out of 2233).…”

Expert opinion in panic disorder: The impact of COVID-19-related fears, protective devices, and lockdown on panic and agoraphobia

“…Several web-based surveys in the general population documented a perceived decline of mental well-being and a significant burden of psychiatric symptoms related to the pandemic measured by different self-reported psychometric questionnaires [1,2]. Consequently, up to approximately 63% of individuals with self-reported preexisting psychiatric disorders declared a subjective deterioration of their psychiatric condition during the pandemic in the USA, Canada, Asia, and Germany [1,[3][4][5]. A similar rate (i.e., 66%) emerged from a web-based survey spread by our research group in the Italian population [6].…”