Focus on Mental Health During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Applying Learnings from the Past Outbreaks

How Essential Is to Focus on Physician's Health and Burnout in Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic?

“…Based on the research of past outbreaks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), influenza, and H1N1, it is well established that physicians, residents, fellows, and the healthcare workers experience a varying degree of burnout. Anxiety and stress developed in the physicians during the outbreaks found to have a positive correlation with Maslach burnout inventory scores [4,5]. Other factors identified in addition to usual contributors to burnout are lack of control over procedures, infection control measures, the false notion of safety precautions, poor communication and directives, lack of preparedness and emotional support, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and perceived fatality [5].…”

“…The phenomena of 1 2 1 1 1 physician burnout are adequately studied and have a direct negative impact on fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance abuse, suicides, poor patient quality care, early retirements, and unexpected resignations [4]. In addition to the known physician burnout contributors such as work factors (excessive workloads and work hours), personal characteristics (work-life imbalance, inadequate support, sleep deprivation), and organization factors (workload expectations, insufficient rewards, and interpersonal communication, negative leadership), it essential to identify and remediate outbreak specific issues to avoid the unwanted social, psychological, and economic burden [4,5].…”

Coping with Mental Health Challenges During COVID-19

“…On the other hand, the children who have been isolated or quarantined during the pandemic have higher chances to develop acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder and grief (Shah et al 2020). PTSD was reported among 30% of the children and early loss of or separation from parents during childhood also has long-term adverse effects on mental health, including higher chances of developing mood disorders, psychosis and suicidality (Shah et al 2020).…”

Eating disorders in the time of COVID-19

“…Before speculating on these potential risks and outcomes, it is worth learning from past similar outbreaks and, where indicated, applying these efforts to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Data involving patients suffering from MERS, SARS, influenza and Ebola [3] were unequivocal in high risk populations (both healthcare providers and patients alike) in revealing a relationship between the neuropsychiatric symptoms experienced, and the outbreak concerned. There are similarities between these past outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic in that such outbreaks resulted in an ever-increasing sense of foreboding and fear, as well as elevated feelings of anxiety and panic and symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.…”

“…There are similarities between these past outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic in that such outbreaks resulted in an ever-increasing sense of foreboding and fear, as well as elevated feelings of anxiety and panic and symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. What seems to be even more concerning is that there is now evidence to suggest that these adverse cognitive and psychiatric sequelae may have long lasting effects on people at risk [3].…”