Mental Health and Psychosocial Problems of Medical Health Workers during the COVID-19 Epidemic in China

Wen Rui Zhang, Kun Wang, Lu Yin, Wen Feng Zhao, Qing Xue, Mao Peng, Bao Quan Min, Qing Tian, Hai Xia Leng, Jia Lin Du, Hong Chang, Yuan Yang, Wei Li, Fang Fang Shangguan, Tian Yi Yan, Hui Qing Dong, Ying Han, Yu Ping Wang, Fiammetta Cosci, Hong Xing Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1079 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: We explored whether medical health workers had more psychosocial problems than nonmedical health workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: An online survey was run from February 19 to March 6, 2020; a total of 2,182 Chinese subjects participated. Mental health variables were assessed via the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Symptom Check List-revised (SCL-90-R), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), which included a 2-item anxiety scale and a 2-item depression scale (PHQ-2). Results: Compared with nonmedical health workers (n = 1,255), medical health workers (n = 927) had a higher prevalence of insomnia (38.4 vs. 30.5%, p < 0.01), anxiety (13.0 vs. 8.5%, p < 0.01), depression (12.2 vs. 9.5%; p< 0.04), somatization (1.6 vs. 0.4%; p < 0.01), and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (5.3 vs. 2.2%; p < 0.01). They also had higher total scores of ISI, GAD-2, PHQ-2, and SCL-90-R obsessive-compulsive symptoms (p ≤ 0.01). Among medical health workers, having organic disease was an independent factor for insomnia, anxiety, depression, somatization, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (p < 0.05 or 0.01). Living in rural areas, being female, and being at risk of contact with COVID-19 patients were the most common risk factors for insomnia, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and depression (p < 0.01 or 0.05). Among nonmedical health workers, having organic disease was a risk factor for insomnia, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (p < 0.01 or 0.05). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 outbreak, medical health workers had psychosocial problems and risk factors for developing them. They were in need of attention and recovery programs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)242-250
Number of pages9
JournalPsychotherapy and Psychosomatics
Volume89
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2020

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