Psychological well-being of outpatients with mental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic — a brief survey results

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social restrictions associated with it on the psychological well-being of outpatients with mental disorders.
 Methods. A total of 151 outpatients (60.9% female; mean age 34.412.9 years) who received treatment at psychiatric day hospitals in St. Petersburg during the first two weeks of May 2020 participated in the study.
 Results. The majority of respondents (72.8%) indicated that they became more stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, including one-third of patients (29.1%) indicating deterioration in family relationships. Two-thirds of patients (60.3%) indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed in connection with it resulted in and increased anxiety and distress.
 Conclusions. This study confirmed that outpatients with psychiatric disorders, as well as the general Russian population, experienced an increase in stress, anxiety, and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study underscore the importance of continuing to provide outpatient psychiatric care during epidemics or social upheaval, despite the imposition of social restrictions.