Mental health trajectories of Brazilian health workers during two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021)

• Published in: Frontiers in psychiatry 2023-03, Vol.14, p.1026429-1026429
• Main Authors: de Lima Osório, Flávia, Zuardi, Antônio Waldo, Silveira, Isabella Lara Machado, de Souza Crippa, José Alexandre, Hallak, Jaime Eduardo Cecílio, Pereira-Lima, Karina, Loureiro, Sonia Regina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anxiety; burnout; COVID-19; follow-up; mental health; Psychiatry; workers
• ISSN: 1664-0640; 1664-0640
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1026429

This study aimed to: (a) monitor the progression of symptoms of mental health burden among frontline workers caring for COVID-19 patients in Brazil during the two waves of the pandemic, considering the number of new cases and deaths, and; (b) to verify the different mental health outcomes and potential associations with current burnout symptoms. A non-probabilistic sample of health professionals was assessed as the pandemic progressed in Brazil (May/2020 August/2021). Standardized instruments focusing on anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, and burnout symptoms were applied online. The results indicate a decrease in anxiety levels, what was related to when the number of new cases declined (end 1th-wave); symptoms returned to higher levels later. Emotional exhaustion increased when there was a higher incidence of cases, returning to the baseline levels at the end of the second wave. Depersonalization symptoms increased in this phase, characterized by a further decrease in new cases, while professional accomplishment decreased during the follow-up. The highest number of new cases was associated with a higher frequency of anxiety (OR = 1.467;95%CI = 1.109-1.941; = 0.007) and professional accomplishment (OR = 1.490;95%CI = 1.098-2.023; = 0.011). The subjects with trajectory of resilience against anxiety presented the lowest level of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (