Stress Experience of COVID-19 Patients as Reported by Psychological Supporters in South Korea: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background:COVID-19 patients experience various stressors during the quarantine period and after release from quarantine. However, stressors experienced during each period remain unclear.MethodsA total of 15 mental health experts from the integrated psychological support group for COVID-19participated in this study. Psychological support was provided for the total 932 confirmed COVID-19 patients and their families. Qualitative data were collected using Focus Group Interview (FGI). The participants were divided into two groups and semi-structured questions were used to allow participants to speak their minds.ResultsDuring the quarantine period, difficulties of being diagnosed with COVID-19, concerns about recovery from COVID-19, stress related to quarantine, issues related to the treatment environment, and limited information about COVID-19 and communication were frequently reported. After release from quarantine, the reported main stressors include reinfection or reactivation, concerns about complications, and financial difficulties. Confusion as vectors and victims, stigma and discrimination, and conflicts within a family were observed during both periods.ConclusionsCOVID-19 patients suffered various stressors during the quarantine period and after release from quarantine. Moreover, returning to their daily life required timely psychosocial support, intervention, and treatment for COVID-19 infection.

Differences in the Course of Depression and Anxiety after COVID-19 Infection between Recovered Patients with and without a Psychiatric History: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Our finding might be explained from the view of psychosocial and biological perspective. In the view of psychosocial factors, COVID-recovered patients can often experience various psychosocial burdens such as stigma [ 18 , 19 ], feeling guilty [ 20 , 21 ], and concern about symptom reactivation and reinfection [ 19 ]. These psychosocial stressors affect psychiatric symptoms in COVID-recovered patients [ 22 ].…”

“…People who have psychiatric histories are more likely to have psychiatric symptoms after an adverse experience [ 17 ]. Experiences of COVID-19 infection are extremely painful [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], and these distressing experiences affect mental health in COVID-recovered patients indeed [ 23 ]. Considering them, COVID-recovered patients with a psychiatric history might be more affected by the adversity of infection and more likely to have current psychiatric symptoms after infection.…”

Differences in the Course of depression and anxiety After COVID-19 Infection Between Recovered Patients With and Without a Psychiatric History: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Our finding might be explained from the view of psychosocial and biological perspective. In the view of psychosocial factors, COVID-recovered patients can often experience various psychosocial burdens such as stigma, [18,19] feeling guilty [20,21] and concern about symptom reactivation and reinfection. [19] These psychosocial stressors affect psychiatric symptoms in COVID-recovered patients, [22] while higher resilience contributes lowers severity of psychiatric symptom in COVID-recovered patients.…”

“…In the view of psychosocial factors, COVID-recovered patients can often experience various psychosocial burdens such as stigma, [18,19] feeling guilty [20,21] and concern about symptom reactivation and reinfection. [19] These psychosocial stressors affect psychiatric symptoms in COVID-recovered patients, [22] while higher resilience contributes lowers severity of psychiatric symptom in COVID-recovered patients. [23]Considering individuals with a psychiatric history tend to be less resilient in general, [17] , COVIDrecovered patients with a psychiatric history might need more time to recover their mental health due to reduced resilience in managing an adverse experience such as a COVID-19 infection.…”

“…[17] As such, COVID-recovered patients with a psychiatric history might be more affected by the adversity of infection and more likely to have current psychiatric symptoms after infection. [18][19][20][21][22][23] Furthermore, inflammation with COVID-19 infection is related to depression and anxiety in COVID-recovered patients. [24][25][26][27] Given the neuroinflammation hypothesis of psychiatric disorders, depression and anxiety induced by neuroinflammation in COVID-19 infection might be severe in COVID-recovered patients with a psychiatric history.…”