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Rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD in health care workers during the Covid-19 pandemic were significantly higher than what’s expected in the general public, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE.
The study found more than 21% of health care workers have symptoms consistent with depression, compared with estimated rates of 4.4% in the general global population, according to the World Health Organization. The study found 22% of health care workers experienced anxiety and 21.5% experienced PTSD, compared with estimated global rates of about 3.6% for anxiety disorders including PTSD.
Researchers Yufei Li, Nathaniel Scherer and others at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analyzed existing studies on depression, anxiety and PTSD in health care workers published or posted between December 2019 and August 2020. In total, 65 studies spanning 21 countries and nearly 100,000 health care workers were included in the analysis. The study included literature in both English and Chinese and is the largest of its kind to date, the researchers said.
“Our findings present concerning outlook for health care workers,” the researchers said. “A group continually needed at the forefront of action against COVID-19, and at continued risk of associated psychological stressors.”
“Fears for personal safety, high workload (particularly for those treating infected patients) and limited support may have contributed to fatigue, burnout and stress among healthcare workers,” the researchers said. “Although separate constructs, burnout and stress are associated with co-morbid psychological outcomes, including common mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.”
The researchers said action is needed now to address serious mental health concerns for health care workers.
“The evidence is clear, those with mental health disorders are more likely to experience excess morbidity and premature mortality, as well as negative impacts across work, education and community life,” they wrote. “The response from policy makers and service providers must be decisive and swift, addressing mental health concerns in this group, before long-term health and social impacts are realized.”
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