Mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic associated with social isolation

  • Jairo Ramírez-Ortiz a. Psychiatry Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. b. Hospital Universitario Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0232-4071
  • Diego Castro-Quintero Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8589-8427
  • Carmen Lerma-Córdoba Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4863-2504
  • Francisco Yela-Ceballos Psychiatry Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6982-3775
  • Franklin Escobar-Córdoba a. Psychiatry Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. b. Hospital Universitario Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. c. Fundación Sueño Vigilia Colombiana. Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0561-4883
Keywords: Pandemics, Social isolation, Coronavirus infections, Anxiety disorders, Depression, Stress disorders, Posttraumatic

Abstract

The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern, which poses a major challenge to mental health as a result of its unprecedented impact in this 21st century. Research in past epidemics has revealed a deep and wide range of psychosocial consequences at the individual and collective level. There are multiple associated psychological disturbances, ranging from isolated symptoms to complex disorders with marked impairment of functionality, such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, it is necessary for mental health services to develop strategies that allow them to react skillfully and provide support to health workers and the affected population so as to reduce the psychological impact as well as the development of psychiatric symptoms. The purpose of this reflection article is to show the possible consequences on the mental health of the population as a result of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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How to Cite
1.
Ramírez-Ortiz J, Castro-Quintero D, Lerma-Córdoba C, Yela-Ceballos F, Escobar-Córdoba F. Mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic associated with social isolation. Colomb. J. Anesthesiol. [Internet]. 2020 Sep. 7 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];48(4). Available from: https://www.revcolanest.com.co/index.php/rca/article/view/930

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Published
2020-09-07
How to Cite
1.
Ramírez-Ortiz J, Castro-Quintero D, Lerma-Córdoba C, Yela-Ceballos F, Escobar-Córdoba F. Mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic associated with social isolation. Colomb. J. Anesthesiol. [Internet]. 2020 Sep. 7 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];48(4). Available from: https://www.revcolanest.com.co/index.php/rca/article/view/930
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