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- Title
Stress and psychological impact on SARS patients during the outbreak.
- Authors
Chua, Siew E.; Cheung, Vinci; McAlonan, Grainne M.; Cheung, Charlton; Wong, Josephine W. S.; Cheung, Erik P. T.; Chan, Marco T. Y.; Wong, Teresea K. W.; Choy, Khai M.; Chu, Chung M.; Lee, Peter W. H.; Tang, Kenneth W. T.; Wong, Teresa K W; Tsang, Kenneth W T
- Abstract
<bold>Objective: </bold>To examine stress and psychological impact in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients during the 2003 outbreak. SARS is a novel, highly infectious pneumonia, and its psychological impact is still unclear.<bold>Method: </bold>At the peak of the outbreak, SARS patients (n = 79) and healthy control subjects (n = 145) completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and documented a range of psychological responses. Groups were balanced for age, sex, education, and living circumstances.<bold>Results: </bold>Stress was significantly higher in SARS patients than in healthy control subjects. Stress correlated significantly with negative psychological effects. Of SARS patients, 39% (n = 30) were infected health care workers; these individuals reported significantly more fatigue and worries about health than did other patients. Of patients, 25% (n = 20) requested psychological follow-up.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>General stress and negative psychological effects are increased in SARS patients, particularly among infected health care workers. This may increase the risk of mood and stress-related disorders. Functional impairment is apparent in the postrecovery phase.
- Subjects
PSYCHOLOGY; SARS disease; PATIENTS; DISEASE outbreaks; EDUCATION; MEDICAL personnel; PHYSIOLOGICAL stress
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2004, Vol 49, Issue 6, p385
- ISSN
0706-7437
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1177/070674370404900607