The Effect of the New Type Coronavirus Outbreak on Quality of Life and Suicidal Thoughts in Psychiatric Patients.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of perceptions on the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life and suicidal ideation in both healthy controls and individuals with psychiatric disorders.

Method: The study was conducted on 4 different groups with 83 depressive disorders, 90 anxiety disorders and 61 schizophrenia patients who have been followed in Gazi University Medical Faculty Hospital Mental Health and Diseases outpatient clinic since before the COVID-19 pandemic period and another group of 93 healthy volunteers. Participants were evaluated with Sociodemographic Data Form, Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), SF-36 Quality of Life Scale (SF- 36), Perception of COVID-19 Scale (P-COVID-19), and Perception of Causes of COVID-19 Scale (PCa-COVID-19).

Results: The perception on the danger and contaigiousness of P-COVID-19 scored lowest in the schizophrenia group, compared to other groups and PCa-COVID-19's Conspiracy and Belief subdimension scores were highest. In all groups, a significant negative correlation was found between the P-COVID-19's dangerousness subdimension score and the SF-36 scale's Mental Health sub-dimension. Again, in all groups, significant positive correlations were found between the Dangerousness sub-dimension score of P-COVID-19 and the anger/impulsivity, hopelessness/loneliness and suicidal thoughts sub-dimensions of the SPS.

Conclusion: The negative effects of perceptions associated with COVID-19 on mental health were observed both in groups with a psychiatric disorder and in healthy controls. The higher number of participants and longitudinal research will provide a better understanding of the effects of perceptions associated with COVID-19 and will guide the necessary treatment interventions.