Coronavirus: What do you know about the long-term psychological effects of...

Susan Kemp, an advertising editor and student in her thirties, was living a lively and lively life before the new Corona pandemic, she would go to restaurants with her partner and relatives and attend reading seminars with her friends.

But since April, Kemp has only left her apartment near Stockholm five times, after her social anxiety disorder symptoms worsened and her fears and compulsive behaviors multiplied by unexplained germ phobia and pollution during the pandemic.

“The additional stress is pushing me to the edge of the collapse that I could avoid before,” says Kemp. She became shuddered in fear of public transportation, and her keenness to clean tableware and cups increased, and she became fearful and sad whenever she saw images of Corona virus cells.

And she says, “I start crying, and I feel that I will die, then I cry with a burning sensation until I feel pain in my body and lung.” Compulsive

While levels of anxiety increased for many during the pandemic, Kemp’s symptoms reveal the serious psychological problems that the pandemic caused or exacerbated for some. And psychologists warn that these problems may persist in the long term.

Stephen Taylor, author of “Epidemiology Psychology” and a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, believes that between 10 to 15 percent of people, their lives will not return to normal, due to the impact of the pandemic on their mental health.

The independent Black Dog Foundation for Mental Health Research has raised concerns about “the minority who will suffer from long-term anxiety.” A group of prominent health professionals recently warned in the British Medical Journal that “the effects of the pandemic on mental health are likely to persist for a longer period compared to its effects on physical health.”

Psychologists’ concerns about the long-term effects of the new Corona virus may be attributed to the results of studies and opinion polls on past pandemics and emergencies.

A study linked the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 to an increase in suicide rates of 30 percent among elderly people over the age of 65. A study published in February this year indicated that measures taken to limit the spread of viruses, such as quarantine, may have negative effects on mental health, as they may lead to symptoms of PTSD, depression or insomnia. Studies have linked job losses and financial hardships during the global economic downturn with poor mental health.

Joshua Morganstein, deputy director of the Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Studies in the United States, says: “The negative effects of disasters on mental health affect more people and last for much longer periods of time than their effects on physical health. It will last long after the epidemic has subsided. “

Morganstein points to a review of studies spanning 25 years on the impact of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine, as researchers noted high rates of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among the first responders two decades after the disaster.

The study indicated that the psychological effects were the most prominent consequence of the disaster, which killed thousands and dealt a devastating blow to the region’s economy. Research also indicates that people whose homes in New Orleans were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 were still suffering from psychological problems, particularly psychological distress and PTSD, five years after the fact. These problems are compounded among those who had pre-disaster psychological problems or those with low incomes.

Psychologists believe that one of the psychological problems that is likely to persist in the long term after the emerging corona epidemic is obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Explaining that, Taylor says, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a result of genetic and environmental factors. “People who have a genetic predisposition to developing types of obsessive-compulsive disorder (such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive cleaning) are more likely to develop the disorder or have symptoms exacerbated by the psychological stress of the pandemic. Some of these people may develop chronic germaphobia unless they receive appropriate psychological treatment. “.

Aside from obsessive-compulsive disorder, Yuko Neboda, a psychologist and spokeswoman for the UK Psychotherapy Council, says: “Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the psychological problems that may spread in the coming days. “, Anxiety and fear may worsen in people who tend to feel anxious. Even after the epidemic subsides, some people will feel excessive anxiety for fear of the emergence of another strain of the virus.”

Nyboda says that psychologists also fear the spread of chronic loneliness or “lack of purpose” in life due to social distancing measures during the pandemic. Social distancing has forced some to turn away from much of their acquaintance, and they may find it difficult to restore their relationships with their friends after the epidemic subsides. Others have voluntarily withdrew from the outside world and turned to themselves in search of safety in their own world. They may find it difficult to get out of isolation and socialize with others.

Neboda points out that the pressures of the epidemic may become more effective on those who have gone through traumatic experiences in the past, adding: “The stress may trigger memories of the trauma consciously or unconsciously, and then the psychological problems will become long-term.”

“Now I live in constant fear of losing my family,” says Lindsay Higgins, from New York, whose partner died of suicide in 2014. After years of psychological treatment, Higgins felt that she had gradually recovered from post-traumatic stress disorder, but now she is in intense fear whenever her new life partner leaves the house, and she says that she is afraid of something wrong, such as catching the disease or catching one of her family members or friends.

Unemployment or loss of a source of income may affect mental health in the long run. Numerous studies have linked the economic repercussions of the epidemic to depression, psychological stress and suicidal ideation.

A recent American study, based on opinion poll data, indicates that more than half of the unemployed or those whose incomes decreased during the pandemic in the United States already suffer from psychological problems, and rates of psychological problems have increased among people who receive lower salaries.

Psychologists believe that the nature and size of the Corona crisis causes an unprecedented uncertainty, and it is not clear when the sectors most affected by the epidemic, such as travel and entertainment, will recover, and what are the prospects for their recovery.

Neboda believes that this situation poses challenges for people who are unable to deal with the unknown or are unable to tolerate situations that are beyond their control. “Some people are afraid of uncertainty or the unknown, and these fears may haunt them for a long time,” she says.

Many agencies and organizations have developed guidelines to respond to the mental health implications of the epidemic. The World Health Organization published recommendations early this year to maintain mental health, and other government agencies followed suit in the United States, the United Kingdom, and others.

Researchers are gathering data to understand the long-term psychological effects of this crisis and how to deal with it. British studies are looking at the mental health of new Corona patients who have received treatment in hospitals and nurses on the front lines. The Psychiatric Research Center in Stockholm is conducting a year-long study in which 3,000 people were suffering from pre-pandemic mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Nitya Jayaram Lindstrom, Operations Manager for the Stockholm Project, says that this study will focus on the extent to which Corona affects disparities in health care and the extent to which the symptoms of patients and the groups most affected by the epidemic develop or change.

In Morganstein’s view, these projects will be an important source of information for healthcare providers and governments. He says, “We use these studies that monitor the health of the population to assess interventions and prepare for the next waves of the epidemic and public health emergencies. Psychological stress, like toxins, is no less harmful than lead or radon, and in order to understand its impact on society, we need to know the groups that were exposed to it and the extent of its impact on Their health. “

Taylor believes that the epidemic may have long-term psychological effects on a group of people, but he highlights the ability of many to withstand psychological pressures and withstand disasters.

In Wuhan, for example, where the epidemic appeared and the authorities were able to control the spread of the epidemic after imposing a quarantine for a period of 76 days, the city hosted a music festival in one of the water parks, where thousands crowded without social distancing or masks. Major concerts were held in New Zealand after its success in curbing the spread of the epidemic.

Taylor believes that these parties and events were held despite the fact that many people at the beginning of 2020 were doubting that life would return to normal, and some expected that life after the epidemic would be similar to the depressing stories of Charles Dickens.

Neboda points out that the epidemic has had a positive impact on the mental health of some people, and this effect may also last for a long time. She believes that the quarantine experience has alleviated the anxiety levels of some people who were suffering from psychological pressure in the outside world before the epidemic. This is because they felt free and safe to spend more hours at home.

Neboda believes that the extra time that some spent at home encouraged them to ensure a balance between work and family life, or to slow down when mixing with others by setting boundaries between personal life and social life.

Some took advantage of social distancing to arrange their homes and get rid of clutter. Neboda says the organized spaces in their homes have a positive impact on their mental health. Experts believe that practicing hobbies in the additional free time contributed to an increase in the feeling of satisfaction and relieved psychological pressure for many.

But these experiences are not working for some people, such as Susan Kemp, who find it difficult to envision an end to their psychological suffering due to the epidemic. “I cannot overcome my fears,” says Kemp. “It is difficult now to know whether these fears are justified or not.”

“I feel restoring psychological balance is almost impossible now,” says Lindsay Higgins. Higgins does not think that PTSD symptoms will improve even if scientists come up with a vaccine. “It will take a long time to distribute the vaccine and convince people to get it,” she says. “I think I will never feel safe again.”