Mental and behavioral disorders stemming from the care or infection of COVID-19 in healthcare professionals: a case study in a public institution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18041/2322-634X/rcso.1.2024.10946Keywords:
Mental disorder, behavioural disorder, SARS-CoV-2, health care workers, anxiety, depressionAbstract
Introduction: This study investigates the psychological and psychiatric impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals. It focuses on how the pandemic, through work-related stress and direct exposure to the virus, has increased cases of anxiety, depression, and PTSD among these workers, particularly in Mexico. Comparative global data are analyzed to contextualize the magnitude of the problem at an international level.
Objective: To analyse the consequences of mental and behavioural disorders caused by COVID-19 in health professionals in a public institution in a Mexican state
Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study during the period 2020-2023. A total of 58 cases of work-related mental disorders in COVID-19 conditions were selected, with special attention to 19 cases directly associated with the disease.
Results: 57.9% of healthcare professionals affected by COVID-19 were women, mainly aged 40-50 years. 94.7% worked in social security, with doctors and nurses being the most common occupations. The mental disorders studied were strongly influenced by biological factors, with difficulty in concentration and anxiety emerging as the predominant symptoms. The analysis highlighted the severity of COVID-19 and the severity of disorders such as major depression. Occupational disabilities reflected an alarming trend toward extended periods of absence. These findings underscore the economic and human burden of COVID-19 in the health sector.
Conclusions: The urgency of psychological support strategies for healthcare personnel and the importance of integrating mental health into occupational health training and policies are emphasized. The research highlights the need for continuous mental health surveillance and the conduction of future longitudinal studies.
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