Psychological disturbances of survivors throughout COVID-19 crisis: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background In addition to physical problems, patients with COVID-19 suffer from considerable stress throughout the disease crisis. It is important to address mental health needs and not to ignore the psychological dimension in this group of patients. In this regard, the first practical step is to have a clear understanding of patients’ psychological issues. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the psychological disturbances of COVID-19 survivors throughout the disease crisis. Method This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach through 14 individual semi-structured in-depth interviews with patients recovered from COVID-19. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Results Three themes of “living in limbo”, “psychological distress behind the wall” and “psychological burden of being a carrier” were extracted as the psychological disturbances of COVID-19 survivors throughout the disease crisis. Conclusion This study portrayed a better understanding of psychological disturbances of COVID-19 survivors throughout the disease crisis based on their lived experiences. Given the ambiguity in the time of the disease eradication and its continuing course, a deep understanding of these experiences in the current critical situation can help healthcare officials to make appropriate decisions and take measures to assess and identify psychological traumas and perform interventions to improve the mental state of these patients.

Psychiatric sequelae in COVID-19 survivors: A narrative review

“…Studies above identified COVID-19 survivors at high risk for psychological problems. Good social support and a number of simple attitudes or activities should be done to prevent psychiatric sequelae in COVID-19 survivors, such as strengthen bonds with other people through social media, think and talk positively, sleep properly, balance diet, regular daily routine, relaxation exercise and other healthy lifestyle measures[ 49 , 55 ]. Music therapy can also be a relevant and simple strategy to improve mental health.…”

Prevalence of mental illness among COVID-19 survivors in South Korea: nationwide cohort

“…Previous studies suggest that psychological sequelae are an important issue among COVID-19 survivors. 7 , 9 – 11 In the USA, survivors of COVID-19 have been found to experience psychiatric disorders 14–90 days after a COVID-19 diagnosis, and anxiety disorders, insomnia and dementia were mostly observed. 10 In South Korea, the development of psychological sequelae has been recently reported in COVID-19 survivors.…”

“… 6 Psychological sequelae has been reported as an important issue in current literature. 7 – 9 In a previous cohort study from the USA, survivors of the diseases who had no previous psychiatric history had a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders during the 14–90 days follow-up period. 10 In South Korea, a high association of psychological sequelae in COVID-19 survivors has been reported in previous studies.…”

Supporting Health-Care Workers and Patients in Quarantine Wards: Evidence From a Survey of Frontline Health-Care Workers and Inpatients With COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

“…Studies focusing on the psychological experience of patients with COVID-19 are relatively fewer, especially during the period of hospitalization. As informed by qualitative research, patients reported their experience as “living in limbo” and because of the high mortality and uncertainty about the prognosis, participants were trapped between life and death ( 13 ). Therefore, the pressure of survival threat is an important psychological stressor for inpatients with COVID-19.…”