COVID-19 quarantine: Post-traumatic stress symptomatology among Lebanese citizens

• Published in: International journal of social psychiatry Vol. 66; no. 7; pp. 666 - 674
• Main Authors: Fawaz, Mirna, Samaha, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-11-2020; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Betacoronavirus; Citizens; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - psychology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemics; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Floods; Health care; Humans; Immunization; Lebanon - epidemiology; Male; Original; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - psychology; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevalence; Psychology; Quarantine; Quarantine - psychology; SARS-CoV-2; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Young Adult; Lebanon; COVID-19; PTSS; quarantine; Coronavirus; pandemic
• ISSN: 0020-7640; 1741-2854
• DOI: 10.1177/0020764020932207

Background:
In the light of the global spread of the novel Coronavirus known as COVID-19 and in the absence of an approved treatment and vaccination, Lebanon has taken national measures, among which was home quarantine of the general public in an attempt to flatten the epidemic curve and avoid flooding the health care system.
Aim:
This study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) during the times of COVID-19 quarantine among Lebanese citizens.
Method:
This quantitative cross-sectional study recruited 950 civilians and is aimed at measuring the prevalence of PTSS among the Lebanese citizens at an interval of 2 weeks and 1 month of COVID-19 quarantine.
Results:
The results have shown that quarantine in Lebanon has started to give rise to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder symptomatology during the second week which was worsened in the fourth week of COVID-19 quarantine.
Conclusion:
COVID-19 quarantine has influenced the psychology of Lebanese citizens and might have persistent effects after the end of this phase which is recommended to be explored.