Psychiatric Morbidity of Survivors One Year after the Outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in Korea, 2015
10.4306/jknpa.2019.58.3.245
- Author:
Jiyoon SHIN
1
;
Hye Yoon PARK
;
Jeong Lan KIM
;
Jung Jae LEE
;
Haewoo LEE
;
So Hee LEE
;
Hyoung Shik SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. psychepark@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Middle east respiratory syndrome;
Emerging infectious diseases;
Mental health;
Posttraumatic stress disorder;
Depression
- MeSH:
Anxiety;
Cohort Studies;
Communicable Diseases;
Communicable Diseases, Emerging;
Coronavirus Infections;
Depression;
Humans;
Korea;
Mental Health;
Middle East;
Prospective Studies;
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic;
Stress Disorders, Traumatic;
Survivors;
Ventilators, Mechanical
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2019;58(3):245-251
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: Patients with an infectious diseases during an outbreak can experience extreme fear and traumatic events in addition to suffering from their medical illness. This study examined the long-term impact of the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Korea, 2015 on the mental health of the survivors. METHODS: Sixty-three survivors from MERS were recruited from a prospective cohort study at six hospitals one year after the outbreak in 2015. The Korean-Symptom Check List 95 was administered to evaluate their psychiatric problems and analyzed according to the patient's characteristics and exposure to traumatic events during the outbreak. RESULTS: A total of 63.5% of survivors suffered from significant psychiatric problems: post-traumatic symptoms (36.5%), sleep problems (36.5%), anxiety (34.9%), and depression (30.2%). Survivors with a history of a ventilator treatment during the MERS epidemic, a family member who died from MERS, and a past psychiatric history showed higher post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and suicidality than people who do not have those histories. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that MERS survivors could have a high chance of adverse psychiatric consequences, even after their recovery from MERS. Exposure to traumatic events during the outbreak and premorbid individual vulnerability would affect the long-term mental health problems.
