The COVID-19 Pandemic as a Social Stressor: Psychological and Psychiatric Risk Factors (Based on Foreign Studies)

Objective. Systematization of the main factors of psychological and psychiatric risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, identified in foreign studies. Background. The need to clarify ideas about the determination of psychological and psychiatric problems caused by the socially stressful impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is dictated primarily by the demands of practice. The relevance of actions in this direction is determined by the continuing instability of the epidemiological and socio-economic situation, the need for prompt and wide coverage of those in need with programs of psychological and psychiatric care, the fragmentation and inconsistency of existing information about the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of the population. Methodology. A theoretical analysis of literature sources describing foreign studies of psychological and psychiatric risk factors against the background of a pandemic was carried out; using a comparative analytical method, the meaning and degree of knowledge of situational and individual factors are determined. Conclusions. The general features of studies conducted by psychologists and psychiatrists from different countries against the background of the coronavirus threat were revealed (the predominance of the remote format, the reduction in the variety and volume of diagnostic tools, the use of large-scale samples). The main factors of psychological and psychiatric risk affecting the population in the context of the spread of coronavirus are divided into situational and individual. The factors of the first group are differentiated according to their degree of specificity for the COVID-19 pandemic, while in the second group, socio-demographic and medico-psychological factors are distinguished. It is shown that individual psychological characteristics that can determine the nature of a person’s response to a pandemic remain the least studied and clarification of their composition is an urgent scientific and practical task.

 

1.        Abrams E.M., Greenhawt M. Risk communication during COVID-19 // The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: in Practice. 2020. Vol. 8. Issue 6. P. 1791—1794. DOI:10.1016/j. jaip.2020.04.012

2.        Ahmed Z. et al. Epidemic of COVID-19 in China and associated psychological problems // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 51. DOI:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102092

3.        Arden M.A., Chilcot J. Health psychology and the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic: a call for research // British Journal of Health Psychology. 2020. Vol. 25 (2). P. 231—232. DOI:10.1111/bjhp.12414

4.        Banerjee D. Psychological preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic, perspectives from India // Psychiatry Research. 2020. Vol. 288. DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112999

5.        Congjie W., Juan Z., Chengjuan Z. Two cases report of epidemic stress disorder to novel coronavirus pneumonia // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 51. DOI:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102070

6.        Eisma M.C., Boelen P.A., Lenferink L.I.M. Prolonged grief disorder following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic // Psychiatry Research. 2020. Vol. 288. DOI:10.1016/j. psychres.2020.113031

7.        Fofana N.K. et al. Fear and agony of the pandemic leading to stress and mental illness: An emerging crisis in the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak // Psychiatry Research. 2020. Vol. 291. Advance online publication. DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113230

8.        Haider I.I., Tiwana F., Tahir S.M. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adult mental health // Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2020. Vol. 36 (COVID19-S4). P. 90—94. DOI:10.12669/ pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2756

9.        Holmes E.A. et al. Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science // Lancet Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 7 (6). P. 547—560. DOI:10.1016/ S2215-0366(20)30168-1

10.    Huang Y., Zhao N. Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey // Psychiatry Research. 2020. Vol. 288. DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112954

11.    Kontoangelos K., Economou M., Papageorgiou C. Mental health effects of COVID-19 pandemia: a review of clinical and psychological traits // Psychiatry Investigation. 2020. Vol. 17 (6). P. 491— 505. DOI:10.30773/pi.2020.0161

12.    Liu N. et al. Prevalence and predictors of PTSS during COVID-19 outbreak in China hardest-hit areas: gender differences matter // Psychiatry Research. 2020. Vol. 287. DOI:10.1016/j. ajp.2020.102070

13.    Mamun M.A., Griffiths M.D. First COVID-19 suicide case in Bangladesh due to fear of COVID-19 and xenophobia: possible suicide prevention strategies // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 51. DOI:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102073

14.    Mazza M. et al. Danger in danger: interpersonal violence during COVID-19 quarantine // Psychiatry Research. 2020. Vol. 289. DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113046

15.    Meng H. et al. Analyze the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the elderly population in China and make corresponding suggestions // Psychiatry Research. 2020. Vol. 289. DOI:10.1016/j. psychres.2020.112983

16.    Moghanibashi-Mansourieh A. Assessing the anxiety level of Iranian general population during COVID-19 outbreak // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 51. DOI:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102076

17.    Moccia L. et al. Affective temperament, attachment style, and the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak: an early report on the Italian general population // Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2020. Vol. 87. P. 75—79. DOI:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.048

18.    Mukhtar S. Mental health and psychosocial aspects of coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan: psychological intervention for public mental health crisis // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 51. DOI:10.1016/J.AJP.2020.102069

19.    Naguy A., Moodliar-Rensburg S., Alamiri B. Coronaphobia and chronophobia — a psychiatric perspective // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 51. DOI:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102050

20.    Rajkumar R.P. COVID-19 and mental health: a review of the existing literature // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 52. DOI:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102066

21.    Sharma S., Sharma M., Singh G. A chaotic and stressed environment for 2019-nCoV suspected, infected and other people in India: Fear of mass destruction and causality // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 51. DOI:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102049

22.    Shi W., Hall B.J. What can we do for people exposed to multiple traumatic events during the coronavirus pandemic? // Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020. Vol. 51. DOI:10.1016/j. ajp.2020.102065

23.    Talevi D. et al. Mental health outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic // Rivista di Psichiatria. 2020. Vol. 55 (3). P. 137—144. DOI:10.1708/3382.33569

24.    Thakur V., Jain A. COVID 2019-suicides: A global psychological pandemic // Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2020. Vol. 88. DOI:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.062

25.    Thombs B.D. et al. Curating evidence on mental health during COVID-19: a living systematic review // Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2020. Vol. 133. P. 110—113. DOI:10.1016/j. jpsychores.2020.110113

26.    Tian F. et al. Psychological symptoms of ordinary Chinese citizens based on SCL-90 during the level I emergency response to COVID-19 // Psychiatry Research. 2020. Vol. 288. DOI:10.1016/j. psychres.2020.112992