Psychopathological Symptoms Among Chronically Ill Patients During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Poland

• Published in: Psychology research and behavior management Vol. 15; pp. 2659 - 2669
• Main Authors: Pawłowski, Marcin, Fila-Witecka, Karolina, Rymaszewska, Julia Ewa, Kamińska, Dorota, Poznański, Paweł, Augustyniak-Bartosik, Hanna, Zielińska, Dorota, Krajewska, Magdalena, Krajewski, Piotr K, Stefaniak, Aleksandra, Szepietowski, Jacek C, Pokryszko-Dragan, Anna, Chojdak-Łukasiewicz, Justyna, Budrewicz, Sławomir, Pawłowski, Tomasz, Szcześniak, Dorota, Rymaszewska, Joanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Macclesfield Taylor & Francis Ltd 01-01-2022; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: chronic kidney disease; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Mortality; multiple sclerosis; Original Research; pandemic; Pandemics; psoriasis; Psychopathology; sars-cov 2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Poland
• ISSN: 1179-1578; 1179-1578
• DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S362918

Introduction: The global severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic had a drastic psychological and economic impact on the global population. Having a chronic disease during the pandemic is associated with numerous limitations and challenges like regular hospital visits, access to health-care units and getting specialized treatment. In addition, chronically ill patients are at great risk of acquiring the SARS-CoV-2 virus and at experiencing a more severe course of illness, due to comorbid conditions as well as more frequent encounters with health-care workers and other patients in medical facilities. The aim of this study was to examine the psychological disturbances, during the pandemic in chronically ill patients. Methods: During the cross-sectional survey conducted between May and October 2020, 398 patients with four different chronic conditions (psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and patients who have undergone a kidney transplant or received dialysis). Study sample was examined regarding the occurrence of psychopathological symptoms (General Health Questionnaire 28) and their perceived stress levels (Perceived Stress Scale). Results: The highest scores were found in the MS group and the lowest scores were found in the kidney transplantation group in every subscale of the GHQ-28. Close to half of the studied population (48.74%, n = 193) patients scored above the cut-off for psychopathology. Conclusion: As the study was conducted during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Poland, it stands to reason that the pandemic affected the psychological wellbeing of chronically ill patients. A COVID-19 infection, being quarantined and having had contact with a person who was infected, did not significantly affect the outcome measures; however, further research is needed to explore this topic.