The effects of sustained COVID-19 emergency and restrictions on the mental health of subjects with serious mental illness: A prospective study.

ABSTRACT: Few longitudinal studies have so far investigated the impact of sustained COVID-19 among people with pre-existing psychiatric disorders. We conducted a prospective study involving people with serious mental illness (n = 114) and healthy controls (n = 41) to assess changes in the Perceived Stress Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Specific Psychotic Experiences Questionnaire scores 18 months after the COVID-19 pandemic outset. Subjects underwent interviews with a mental health professional in April 2020 and at the end of the local third wave (October 2021). A significant increase in perceived stress was found in healthy controls, especially females. Psychiatric patients showed a significant worsening of anxiety symptoms compared to baseline records

SUBMITTER: Barone A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9347680 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature