Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress in military health personnel in training exposed to COVID-19

Abstract

Objective The COVID-19 health crisis triggered an increase in prevalence of psychological distress in health personnel in training. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress in health personnel who have cared for patients with COVID-19. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out, from March to September 2021, among health personnel enrolled in some medical specialty of the Military Graduate School of Health. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress were measured, as well as associated demographic factors. Results A study sample of 170 health personnel in training were surveyed online; 76% reported being a doctor and 24% were nurses, 54% were female sex, 52% in the age group between 30 and 39 years, most with single marital status and no children. Of the participating health personnel, we found prevalence’s of 30% anxiety, 34% depression, and 6% post-traumatic stress. When performing Pearson’s correlation, it was found that variables such as infected family member, number of times infected, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), were significantly associated with the total of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) score. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant psychological impact, manifesting itself in the form of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress in military health personnel in training. Therefore, it is of great importance to detect at least this psychic discomfort from the pandemic in front-line personnel, so that decision-makers in health policies address them as priority problems for health personnel.