Since 2020, the spread of the coronavirus and its subsequent clinical manifestation, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, have represented a historic event of global significance. The pandemic has affected the quality of life and mental health status of both the general population and patients with mental health problems.
In the beginning, the health and social consequences were mainly linked to the direct life-threatening risk posed by an unknown and highly fatal respiratory disease, for which no treatment or vaccine were available. Therefore, disease prevention, through physical distancing of the general population and isolation of cases, was considered the most effective measure to minimise the spread of the virus.
Lockdown and isolation measures have, therefore, characterised much of the global fight against COVID-19. These measures unfortunately had serious economic, educational, social, and mental health repercussions for individuals and societies. While the effects of lockdown and isolation have been extensively studied in individuals with mental health problems, less has been explored on the role of socio-cultural, environmental, and local factors in facing COVID-19. Therefore, in this Research Topic, we look at the effects of the pandemic on mental health from the lens of local and sociocultural factors. We particularly look at three groups of individuals: the general population, special vulnerable populations, and health care providers.
In the first section of this editorial, we will provide an overview of the main findings of the publications in our Research Topic assessing mental health outcomes and psychological issues among the general population, amid different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and from a various range of cultures and societies.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been one of the most studied psychiatric disorders during the outbreak. Shen et al. reported on the prevalence of PTSD and its related factors among the Chinese population, 1 year after the start of the pandemic. The authors used the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) among a sample of 2,361 Chinese residents and found a PTSD prevalence of 9.28%. Rajkumar presented an analysis of factors contributing to PTSD amid the pandemic, by analysing data from 35 countries.
He found a positive relationship between PTSD and the COVID-19 case-fatality ratio and power distance. He also noted a trend toward a negative quadratic association between internet usage and PTSD. Lastly, he did not detect significant cross-national effects for government restrictiveness (Rajkumar).
Guest Editorial