Psychological Impact of COVID-19, Isolation, and Quarantine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ghufran Jassim; Mariam Jameel; Edwina Brennan; Manaf Yusuf; Nebras Hasan; Yusuf Alwatani

doi:10.2147/NDT.S311018

Psychological Impact of COVID-19, Isolation, and Quarantine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2021 May 11:17:1413-1421. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S311018. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Ghufran Jassim¹, Mariam Jameel², Edwina Brennan³, Manaf Yusuf³, Nebras Hasan³, Yusuf Alwatani⁴

Affiliations

¹ Family Medicine Department, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain), Busaiteen, Bahrain.
² Department of Medicine, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain.
³ RCSI, Busaiteen, Bahrain.
⁴ Psychiatry Department, Serene Psychiatry Hospital, Manama, Bahrain.

Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in mandatory isolation and quarantine. The objective of this study was to describe and compare the psychological impacts of COVID-19 isolation and quarantine.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional retrospective study. Participants were Bahrainis aged >18 years who had undergone either isolation or quarantine. Eligible participants were identified from the COVID-19 contacts (quarantine) and cases (isolation) database of Bahrain. Validated questionnaires for self-reported depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies - depression [CES-D]), posttraumatic stress (Impact of Event Scale - revised [IES-R]), and perceived stigma (Stigma Scale [SS]) were administered.

Results: Mean CES-D, IES-R, and SS scores were 16.76±5.65, 13.50±14.67, and 25.29±7.99, respectively. In sum, 40% (205 of 502) of participants showed clinically significant depression, and <20% (98 of 502) had indications of some posttraumatic distress, with greater depression and distress in those isolated than those quarantined. Perceived stigma was reported by 53.4% (268 of 502) of participants, more prominent among those quarantined. Depression and posttraumatic stress scores were significantly higher in females, college students, those with a history of mental health conditions, knowing a COVID-19 fatality, and experiencing social conflict. Age was a significant variable correlated with all three scales, with younger participants indicating more distress, depression, and stigma. Duration of segregation was significantly correlated with CES-D, score showing more depressive symptoms as the duration of isolation increased. Significant predictors were age, sex, history of mental illness, and COVID-19 status.

Conclusion: Isolated and quarantined individuals reported depression, perceived stigma, and to a lesser extent distress. Psychological interventions identifying and targeting people with different-severity psychological burdens are in urgent need.

Keywords: Bahrain; COVID-19; isolation; psychological impact; quarantine.