The psychological symptoms of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease (2019) in China: A cross-sectional study

J Adv Nurs. 2021 Apr;77(4):1813-1824. doi: 10.1111/jan.14701. Epub 2020 Dec 4.

Abstract

Aims: To determine psychological symptoms of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 in China and to explore the influencing factors.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: A convenience sample of 296 mild coronavirus disease 2019 patients were recruited from a Fangcang hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province, from 3-5 March, 2020. Participants were assessed using a sociodemographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, and Symptom Check List 90. The binary logistic regression was utilized to explore the influencing factors of psychological symptoms of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019.

Results: In total, 296 of 299 patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 participated in the study (response rate: 99.0%). The findings revealed that 12.8% patients with mild symptoms have mental health problems; the most common psychological symptoms are phobic anxiety (58.4%), paranoid ideation (50.7%) and psychoticism (40.2%). Female patients [OR = 3.587, 95% CI (1.694-7.598)] and those having physical symptoms currently [OR = 2.813, 95% CI (1.210-6.539)] are at higher risk, while those in the middle duration of hospitalization [OR = 0.278, 95% CI (0.121-0.639)] protect against mental-health problems.

Conclusions: The minority of patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 were still suffering from psychological symptoms. Healthcare providers are recommended to pay particular attention to screening these high-risk groups (women, those in the initial stages of hospitalization and those with physical symptoms currently) and implement targeted psychological care as required.

Impact: This study found that most patients of coronavirus disease 2019 in Fangcang hospital exhibited normal mental health at par with the general Chinese norm and the minority of them were suffering from psychological symptoms. The findings can provide a reference for healthcare providers to screen high-risk psychological symptoms groups and implement targeted psychological intervention for patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

目的: 了解中国新冠病毒肺炎轻度症状患者的心理症状, 并探讨影响因素。 设计: 一项横截面研究。 方法: 2020年3月3日至3月5日, 在湖北省武汉市方仓医院招募296例新冠病毒肺炎轻度症状患者作为便利样本。采用社会人口学和临床特征调查问卷以及症状自评量表90对参与者进行评估。利用二元逻辑回归探讨了新冠病毒肺炎患者心理症状的影响因素。 结果: 在299例新冠病毒肺炎轻度症状患者中, 共有296例参与研究 (有效率: 99.0%) 。研究结果显示, 12.8%的轻度症状患者存在心理健康问题; 最常见的心理症状是恐惧焦虑 (58.4%) 、偏执(50.7%) 和精神质 (40.2%) 。女性患者【OR=3.587,95%CI(1.694-7.598) 】和目前有体症的患者【OR=2.813,95%CI(1.210-6.539) 】风险较高, 而住院中期的患者【OR=0.278,95%CI(0.121-0.639) 】可以预防心理健康问题。 结论: 在新冠病毒肺炎病症状较轻的患者中, 少数患者仍有心理症状。建议医疗服务提供者特别注意筛查这些高危人群 (女性、住院初期和目前有身体症状的人群) , 并根据需要实施针对性的心理护理。 影响: 本研究发现, 方仓医院新冠病毒肺炎病患者大多表现为心理健康正常, 与中国一般常态持平, 少数患者存在心理症状。该研究结果可为医疗服务提供者筛选高危心理症状群体并对新冠病毒肺炎患者实施针对性的心理干预提供参考。.

Keywords: COVID-19; China; coronavirus disease 2019; mental health condition; patient; psychological symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology
  • Anxiety Disorders / etiology*
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / psychology*
  • China / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Symptom Assessment / psychology*
  • Symptom Assessment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult