THE IMPACT OF QUARANTINE AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ON THE MENTAL STATE OF THE POPULATION

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented crisis in mental health worldwide. Most of the affected countries, including Ukraine, have implemented physical distancing. Despite the efforts of many scientists over the past few months, research into the negative psychological effects of social isolation is still ongoing, and many questions remain unanswered.Purpose. To examine the data of scientific research on the impact of quarantine and social isolation on the mental state of the population.Materials and methods. In our search of the available literature, we identified 129 articles on the impact of the pandemic on mental health published between May 2020 and May 2022, and this review analyzes thirty-two articles (in this time range). In addition, data from six fundamental studies on loneliness and social isolation were used.Results. The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic has affected the mental health of people around the world. The scientific publications we reviewed suggest that this large-scale health crisis has led to an increase in the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of conditions such as depression and anxiety increased by more than 25% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research also suggests that measures to limit the spread of the disease (including physical distancing, quarantine, and isolation) can increase feelings of loneliness and withdrawal symptoms.Conclusions. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health is unprecedented in its scale. Most notably, during the time period covered by this literature review, serious mental disorders were observed in the general population, with a particularly high risk among people with prior mental illness.