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New study confirms negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health

During the current pandemic our well-being has deteriorated. This is confirmed by an international survey conducted among 13 thousands inhabitants of 12 different countries. The Polish contribution to this study has been made by scientists from the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology.

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Team of researchers from 12 countries, including the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, identified the factors contributing to worsening of psychiatric condition during the coronavirus pandemic.

The study anonymously examined 2,734 psychiatric patients worldwide for worsening of their preexisting psychiatric conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. An independent clinical investigation of 318 psychiatric patients from United States was used for verification. Part of the study constituted an online survey in which over 13.3 thousand people participated.

A clinical trial held in the United States confirmed the deterioration of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in people who previously struggled with mental health problems. Scientists identified new symptoms that required intervention in more than half of the patients. The most common was the need to adjust the dose of drugs or start using new drugs. Moreover, it turned out that:

  • among Polish respondents who suffered from mental disorders before the pandemic, 54% experienced a deterioration in their condition due to the pandemic
  • factors contributing to the deterioration of person’s well-being include: the feeling of lack of control (90%), gender being woman (70%), and lack of interaction with others (56%)
  • older people were better mentally able to cope with the constraints associated with the pandemic than younger people.

The researchers also shared tips of how to prevent mental health deterioration: “In our study, we have shown that daily exercise, even for 15 minutes, preferably one hour, increases resistance to disorders. In addition, it has turned out that using social media, as before, is beneficial. Finally, being able to share your concerns with loved ones can be very helpful. Maintaining social distance should not mean social isolation, ”says Dr. Ali Jawaid from the Nencki Institute.

Aside from the specialists from the Nencki Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, representatives of two other Polish scientific units participated in the project, namely the University of Warsaw and the Medical University of Warsaw.

Read the full article „Worsening of Preexisting Psychiatric Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

Source of Information: Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences