Mental Health of Asymptomatic or Mildly Symptomatic COVID19 Patients in the Seoul Metropolitan City Community Treatment Center: Cross Sectional Analysis of Depression, Anxiety, Trauma Experience, and Suicidal Tendency

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate depression, anxiety, trauma experience, and suicidal tendency among patients who were hospitalized in a community treatment center and to identify the factors that were associated with each symptom. Methods : A total of 213 patients who were hospitalized in the Tae-reung community treatment center between March 16, 2020 and April 30, 2020 were recruited into this study. A self-report questionnaire or interview by mental health professionals was used to assess PHQ-2, GAD-7, PC-PTSC and P4 screener. In 90 patients who completed the survey, multiple regression modeling was conducted to identify the burden of each psychiatric symptoms and associated demographic characteristics. Results : Female gender was significantly positively associated with GAD-7 score, score of each GAD-7 subscale of 1, 2, 3 or 4 (nervous, control of worry, worry, and trouble relaxing), and sum of GAD-7 subscale scores reflecting cognitive and emotional experience of anxiety (1. nervous+2. control of worry+3. worry+7. afraid). Previous psychiatric history and, number of counseling service used were significantly positively associated with the PHQ-2 score and the duration of isolation was significantly negatively associated with the PHQ-2 score. Conclusion : These results showed that depression and anxiety symptoms were more prevalent in COVID-19 patients at the community treatment center than in the general population. Among the demographic characteristics, female gender was positively associated with cognitive and emotional experience of anxiety. It shows the necessity of an appropriate psychiatric intervention protocol and health-policy preparation for community treatment centers.

서울 생활치료센터에 입소한 경증 혹은 무증상 코로나19 감염자의 정신건강: 우울, 불안, 외상경험, 자살위험성에 대한 단면 분석