Covid-19 took its toll worldwide and has ever since its onset instilled considerable degree of fear, worry and concern in the population at large and among certain groups in particular, such as older adults, care providers and people with underlying health conditions.
Generally, the current scenario of Covid-19 deaths, lockdowns, job losses, etc, anxiety and depression are quite widespread. In most cases, anxiety may not interfere with daily functioning or would disappear once the stressor is gone. In some other cases though, the mental health problem could interfere with daily life, or cause suicidal thoughts, to the extent that the patient would need treatment by a mental health professional immediately.
Several types of anxiety disorders are expected to increase with Covid-19. Cases of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD, wherein the person suffers persistent nervousness, irritability, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, etc), panic disorders (characterised by panic attacks), phobia such as excessive fear of crowds, are expected to appear.
Cases of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are expected to increase with Covid-19, with distressing obsessions about contamination, and washing rituals that can last hours. Healthcare workers are more vulnerable to this in the current scenario.
Cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are also expected to arise due to Covid-19. The NIMHANS document cites a study that found a seven-nine percent prevalence of PTSD among those living in areas hit hard by
Though from the very beginning of the covid pandemic, there have been several studies or tests conducted on the patients to learn more about the health complications or the conditions, but lot less has been done for the ones who worked so diligently throughout the entire battle. The frontline workers throughout this pandemic gave their best to save millions of lives without bothering about their own. Due to their personal sacrifices, millions of people are still able to survive and for doctors and healthcare workers, a patient’s recovery is their sole reward in a long and unending battle against this deadly virus. But, deep down, they too suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, and fear about the uncertain situations that are yet to come about the ongoing situation and for them and their families. Long shifts ranging from six to twelve hours, and extending up to 48 hours in case somebody is absent, take a toll. In addition to this, the discomfort of being strapped in PPE kits for hours and separation from family and friends for months can actually desensitise healthcare workers so deeply that often they fail to react to the deaths in the COVID-19 wards.
The Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) has formed a task force to create a database on the emotional and psychological issues of doctors. The IPS task force – Dr for Drs – is headed by Arun Kandasamy, Additional Professor of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). “Doctors are facing real-life issues. Uncertainty regarding the virus, its duration and management is at the core of the mental health of most doctors. Huge death loads and certifying deaths, inability to take in genuine patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to lack of beds, especially during the second wave, has had a huge effect on their mental health,” said Dr Kandasamy.
According to the study, over 62% of doctors were found to have moderate stress and about 28% high stress. Only 10% of doctors reported low stress. Not a single doctor was found to be stress free. The stress increased significantly with increasing time spent in the Covid ward.
Nearly 50% of doctors experienced nervousness and got stressed and angry as they felt unable to control important things in their lives. They have been upset because of fear that something might happen unexpectedly. About 40% felt they could not cope with all things they had to do while nearly one-third of doctors felt that difficulties were piling up so high that they could not overcome them.
They absorbed the gloom of this Covid-19 wave like a sponge absorbs water, a year has already passed and still they are fighting hard to resist the deadly virus to free the souls of those grasped in the clench of the virus.
