Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
MD, psychiatrist, Associate Professor of psychiatry, Neurosciences Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Department of Psychiatry, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
2
MD, Neurosciences Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Department of Psychiatry, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
3
MD, Neurosciences Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Department of Psychiatry, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
4
MPH, PhD. Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Liver and Digestive Research Center, Research Institute for Health development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
5
MD, Psychiatrist, Assistant Professor of psychiatry, Neurosciences Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Department of Psychiatry, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a threatening and potentially traumatic event, causing psychological problems among communities. So far, few studies have evaluated the psychological impact of COVID-19-related deaths on the mental health of bereaved people. This study aimed to assess the mental health of individuals who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sanandaj, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the family members of the deceased confirmed COVID-19 patients living in Sanandaj, Iran, in 2020 – 2021. A total of 405 participants completed the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) anonymously after obtaining informed consent and entered the study.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.87 ± 8.31 years. Most participants (76.8%) reported only mild to moderate symptoms, whereas 5.4% indicated severe symptoms, and 17.8% reported no mental health difficulties. The depression dimension was more prevalent in the mothers, daughters, and sisters of the deceased, and the percentage of disorder in the obsessive-compulsive and paranoid ideation dimensions was more prevalent in women and unemployed people, respectively.
Conclusions: According to our results, COVID-19-related death negatively affected the mental health of a relative. Given the pandemic's possible long-term mental health effects, planning to improve mental health in vulnerable groups should be considered for the post-COVID-19 era.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)