Impact of a Psychiatric Consultation Program on COVID-19 Patients: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective Following the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the importance of addressing acute stress induced by psychological burdens of diseases became apparent. This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of a new mode of psychiatric intervention designed to target similar psychological crises.Methods Participants included 32 out of 114 COVID inpatients at a hospital in Daegu, Korea, who were assessed between March 30 and April 7, 2020. Multiple scales for screening psychological difficulties such as depressed mood, anxiety, insomnia, acute stress, and suicidality were done. Psychological problem evaluations and interventions were conducted in the form of consultations to alleviate participants’ psychological challenges via telepsychiatry. The interventions’ effects, as well as clinical improvements before and after the intervention, were analyzed.Results As a result of screening, 21 patients were experiencing psychological difficulties beyond clinical thresholds after COVID-19 infection (screening positive group). The remaining 11 were screening negative groups. The two groups differed significantly in past psychiatric histories (p=0.034), with the former having a higher number of diagnoses. The effect of the intervention was analyzed, and clinical improvement before and after the intervention was observed. Our intervention was found to be effective in reducing the overall emotional difficulties.Conclusion This study highlighted the usefulness of new interventions required in the context of healthcare following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guiding future research on psychological interventions in people with COVID-19 and post COVID syndrome and comorbid emotional disorders based on a systematic review

“…Most of the studies had been conducted in China ( n = 15) ( 30 , 33 , 34 , 45 , 50 , 52–55 , 63 , 64 , 66–69 ), Iran ( n = 6) ( 38 , 47 , 48 , 58 , 61 , 62 ), Italy ( n = 5) ( 29 , 31 , 41 , 44 , 57 ), India ( n = 4) ( 36 , 46 , 56 , 59 ), United States ( n = 2) ( 28 , 35 ), and Korea ( n = 2) ( 49 , 65 ). The remaining studies had been developed in Saudi Arabia ( n = 1) ( 27 ), Nigeria ( n = 1) ( 32 ), Indonesia ( n = 1) ( 39 ), France ( n = 1) ( 42 ), Turkey ( n = 1) ( 43 ), Thailand ( n = 1) ( 51 ), Latvia ( n = 1) ( 40 ), Ghana ( n = 1) ( 37 ), and Poland ( n = 1) ( 60 ).…”

“…With regard to study design, the most common study design was randomized controlled trials ( n = 15) ( 43 , 45 , 47 , 50 , 52–56 , 58 , 60–62 , 64 , 69 ) followed by case studies ( n = 14) ( 27–40 ). Other study designs included pre-post studies without control group ( n = 9) ( 41 , 42 , 44 , 49 , 57 , 59 , 63 , 65 , 67 ) and non-randomized studies with control group ( n = 5) ( 46 , 48 , 51 , 66 , 68 ).…”

“…The remaining studies addressed panic attacks alone ( 63 ) or combined with PTSD ( 69 ), PTSD alone ( 28 , 31 , 45 ), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) ( 27 ). Finally, two studies included patients with more than two diagnoses, namely depression, anxiety, panic attacks and suicidal attempts ( 39 ), depression, anxiety and suicidal attempts ( 32 , 49 ) or depression, anxiety and PTSD ( 65 ).…”

“…The interventions with less representation were those based on music therapy ( 39 , 40 ); compassion ( 48 ); positive psychology with hypnosis and Ericksonian principles ( 60 , 69 ), narrative exposure therapy ( 45 ), EMDR ( 31 , 42 ) and imagination ( 58 ). Four case studies ( 30 , 32 , 35 , 36 ) and two pre-post studies without control group ( 63 , 65 ) did not provide information about the type of psychotherapy that was applied. One study ( 37 ) described two different psychological programs, one of them based on CBT and the other focused on social support, positive recovery and relaxation training.…”

“…For example, seven studies used computerized programs which required the use of Internet-based solutions ( 45 , 55 , 57 , 64 ) or videoconferencing ( 29 , 36 , 41 ). Four programs used group social messaging platforms ( 51 , 54 , 61 , 68 ) and three studies used phone calls ( 35 , 49 , 65 ). Finally, some interventions were supported by the use of videos and audios ( 43 , 56 , 58 , 66 ).…”