Management of Patients Experiencing Anxiety During the Coronavirus Disease: The Main Role of Healthcare Providers in a Special Crisis

As the coronavirus disease spreads across the world, the rate
of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, somatic
symptoms, panic disorder, self‑blame, Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD), feeling guilty, psychosis delirium, and
even suicide have been increased in healthcare providers,
quarantined family members, and the patients. Inadequate
knowledge regarding the route of transmission, incubation
period of the virus, being sick or dying, helplessness,
isolation because of lockdown states, treatment and safety
measures, financial crisis and insecurity regarding the
future may cause anxiety.[1,2] Therefore, psychological
intervention, supportive care, and symptomatic treatment
are needed as adjuvant therapy methods to help the patients.
Psychological intervention can integrate the patients into
society and reduce their psychological disorders.[3]
A variety of psychosocial preventive strategies such as
effective communication and client education should
be carried out while discrimination or stigma need to
be recognized as major problems. Effective and early
management of health emergency should be implemented
while healthcare providers need to be guided by
evidence‑based hospital protocols about adequate protective
measures.[4]
Scientists should identify unmet needs and provide
appropriate information to reduce the impact of frustration,
anxiety, and all the negative emotions and pre‑existing
psychological distress as main barriers to manage
psychological consequences and social crisis related to
the pandemic. Furthermore, internet access, telephones
helplines, active social networks, forums and dedicated
blogs should be implemented to reduce loneliness and
isolation to allow affected individuals to have a good
communication with their loved ones.[5]
In conclusion, implementing community‑based strategies
to support psychologically vulnerable individuals during
the coronavirus disease is important. Scientific work flow,
careful psychological and medical cares are recommendable
as a part of the global preparedness efforts