Post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress symptoms in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 outbreak led to an increase in mental disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in the general population and especially in high-risk populations such as patients with rheumatologic conditions. Although these latters are considered vulnerable to developing PTSD, few specific data have been particularly reported in the framework of the pandemic. The aim of the present study was to investigate PTSD and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in a sample of patients with systemic autoimmune disease (SAD), followed in the framework of a prospective observational study during the pandemic. MethodsThe PERMAS project is a prospective observational study including patients with SAD and involving the Rheumatology and the Psychiatric Clinics of the