Title:PTSD in the COVID-19 Era
Volume: 19
Issue: 12
Author(s): Farah Chamaa, Hisham F. Bahmad, Batoul Darwish, Jana M. Kobeissi , Malak Hoballah, Sibell Bou Nassif , Yara Ghandour , Jean-Paul Saliba , Nada Lawand*Wassim Abou-Kheir*
Affiliation:
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut,Lebanon
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut,Lebanon
Keywords:
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, stigma, health care workers.
Abstract:
Background: In December 2019, Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China witnessed an
outbreak of a novel type of coronavirus (COVID-19), named severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The sharp rise in the number of infected cases and the surge spike in
fatalities worldwide prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare this rapid outbreak
a global pandemic in March 2020. The economic, health, and social ramifications of COVID-19 induced
fear and anxiety all over the world.
Objective: The purpose of this review is to discuss how precautionary measures and restrictions imposed
by governments, such as quarantines, lockdowns, and social distancing, have not only caused
economic losses, but also a rise in mental health problems specifically post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD).
Methods: A deep comprehensive review of the relevant literature regarding the pandemic and its
debilitating consequences on the psychological status of the public was performed.
Results: This review illustrates that the pandemic had a traumatic impact on the psychological functioning
of the public, particularly COVID-19 survivors, older adults, and healthcare workers, due to
difficulties in coping with new realities and uncertainties.
Conclusion: In this review, we have discussed the psychological implications of this pandemic and
we have provided an extensive background for understanding options regarding PTSD management
in healthy individuals and those with preexisting conditions.
