Fear, Anxiety, Stress, and Depression of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Among Patients and Their Healthcare Workers - A Descriptive Study

• Published in: Psychology research and behavior management 2021-01, Vol.14, p.1737-1746
• Main Authors: Parchani, Ashwin, Vidhya, K, Panda, Prasan Kumar, Rawat, Vikram Singh, Bahurupi, Yogesh Arvind, Kalita, Deepjyoti, Kumar, Harsh, Dr, Naveen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age groups; Analysis; Anxiety; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; China; Consent; coronavirus disease 2019; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; depression; Employees; Epidemics; Ethics; fear; Fear & phobias; Health aspects; healthcare worker; Hospitals; India; Infections; Medical personnel; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental health care; Original Research; Pandemics; Patients; Quarantine; Questionnaires; Respiratory diseases; Stress; Stress (Psychology); survey; Workers
• ISSN: 1179-1578; 1179-1578
• DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S324233

Disease pandemics are known to cause psychological distress. The ensuing mental health issues are not only restricted to the patients and their relatives/friends but affect the healthcare workers (HCWs) as well. Our study aims to assess these psychological trends during the COVID-19 pandemic between the two most affected population groups, that is, patients and frontline healthcare workers. A survey questionnaire, including scales to assess fear, anxiety, stress, depression - PSS 10, and DASS 21, was distributed and sent to all COVID-19 suspected/confirmed individuals and healthcare workers at a tertiary care center along with a second visit after 14 days of answering the first questionnaire and this continued as follow-up. Data were analyzed with the SPSS version 23 using various tests of significance. In the community, COVID-19 patients in the age group 41-50 with respiratory tract symptoms and those who were home isolated/quarantined experienced a greater tendency of mental health problems. Healthcare workers posted in COVID-19 designated areas of the hospital displayed higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The high degree of uncertainty associated with novel pathogens has a profound effect on the psychological state of suspected/confirmed cases as well as healthcare workers. Within the community, individuals suspected of having COVID-19 display a significant mental health burden, while HCWs also experience an unprecedented amount of stress, anxiety, depression and fear during such enduring situations.