Mental Health Consequences for Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review to Draw Lessons for LMICs

Modhurima Moitra, Muhammad Rahman, Pamela Y. Collins, Fatima Gohar, Marcia Weaver, John Kinuthia, Wulf Rössler, Stefan Petersen, Jurgen Unutzer, Shekhar Saxena, Keng Yen Huang, Joanna Lai, Manasi Kumar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review provides a summary of current evidence on the mental health consequences of COVID on HCWs. Methods: A scoping review was conducted searching PubMed and Embase for articles relevant to mental health conditions among HCWs during COVID-19. Relevant articles were screened and extracted to summarize key outcomes and findings. Results: A total of fifty-one studies were included in this review. Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychological trauma, insomnia and sleep quality, workplace burnout and fatigue, and distress were the main outcomes reviewed. Most studies found a high number of symptoms endorsed for depression, anxiety, and other conditions. We found differences in symptoms by sex, age, and HCW role, with female, younger-aged, frontline workers, and non-physician workers being affected more than other subgroups. Conclusion: This review highlights the existing burden of mental health conditions reported by HCWs during COVID-19. It also demonstrates emerging disparities among affected HCW subgroups. This scoping review emphasizes the importance of generating high quality evidence and developing informed interventions for HCW mental health with a focus on LMICs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number602614
JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 27 2021

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • anxiety symptoms
  • depressive symptoms
  • distress
  • global health
  • healthcare worker
  • mental health conditions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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