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Background: Many studies across the globe have evaluated the adverse mental health consequences of COVID-19 in patients who suffered from COVID-19 infection. However, a comparative study of persons who suffered from COVID-19 infection and those who witnessed the COVID-19 infection in their close relatives is lacking. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to compare the psychiatric morbidity in persons who suffered from COVID-19 infections, and those who witnessed the illness in one of their close relatives. Methods: In this cross-sectional online survey, 2,964 adult participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCS-19), Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and a self-designed questionnaire to evaluate other neuropsychiatric complications. Results: Compared to the close relatives who had witnessed COVID-19 infection, participants who developed COVID-19 infection had a significantly higher prevalence of depression (34.6%), anxiety disorder (32.3%), and fear of COVID-19 infection (18.8%), which was significantly higher than that noted in close relatives. However, BRS coping score was not significantly different between the two groups. Overall, about one-third of the participants who developed COVID-19 infection had depression and one-third had anxiety disorders. One-fifth of the participants reported high fear, post-traumatic symptoms, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, whereas one-sixth reported other neuropsychiatric manifestations. Conclusion: Patients who suffered from COVID-19 have a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and fear as compared to those to witnessed COVID-19 in relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in elderly patients recovered from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection, the present study aimed to compare the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among elderly (aged ≥60 years) and adult patients (aged 18–59 years). Methodology: Two hundred and three elderly patients and 1714 adult participants had completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, The Brief Resilience Scale, and a self-designed questionnaire to assess the neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results: In the whole sample, the prevalence of depression was 34.4%, GAD was 32.6%, sleep disturbances were 58.3%, suicidal ideations were 23%, COVID-19-related fear was 32.1%, low resilience was 18.7%, and low resilient coping was 49.5%. Compared to adult participants, elderly participants had significantly higher prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, COVID-19 fear score, low resilience, and low resilient coping. In the whole sample, the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was 23.8%–25.3%, panic attacks were 17%, loneliness was 23.2%, forgetfulness was 21.8%, and cognitive slowing was 19%. Compared to the adult participants, significantly higher proportion of the elderly reported PTSD symptoms, cognitive slowing, and forgetfulness. Conclusions: Compared to adult subjects, elderly subjects who have recovered from COVID-19 infection have significantly higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, fear, post-traumatic symptoms, and cognitive symptoms. Hence, there is an urgent need to assess psychiatric morbidity among the elderly subject who have recovered from COVID-19 infection and institute interventions at the earliest to improve their mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little information is available from India about the psychological impact of COVID-19 on helath-care workers. Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the psychological issues among the health-care workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: An online survey using Survey Monkey® platform was carried out to evaluate depression (using Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (using Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7), and other psychological issues (using a self-designed questionnaire). Results: The study sample comprised 303 participants with a mean age of 4L2 (standard deviation: 11.1) years. A majority of them were male (69%) and married (79.9%). Nearly half (46.2%) of the participants had either anxiety disorder or depression or both and '2.9% of HCW had suicidal behavior. Higher level of anxiety and depression scores were associated with being female, having undergone quarantine, directly involved in the care of COVID-'9 patients, and younger age (<30 years). Higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder was seen in younger (<30 years) age group, being a doctor (compared to paramedics). In addition, higher prevalence of depression was seen in those who were directly involved in the care of patients with COVID-'9 infection. Conclusion: About half of the HCWs are suffering from psychiatric morbidity, specifically anxiety, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to assess all the HCWs for psychiatric morbidity and provide them with psychological support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of lockdown on sexual functioning in India. In addition, impact of lockdown on relationship with the partner and mental health was evaluated. Materials and Methods: An online survey was conducted using changes in sexual functioning questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-4, and a self-designed questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the participants was 41.5 (standard deviation: 11.2; range: 22--77; median: 39.5) years, with the majority being males 385 (85.6%). The participants reported that lockdown led to reduction in the frequency of sexual intercourse and also touching the partner (fondling, caressing, touching, or kissing) when not indulging in sexual intercourse. Majority of the participants reported improvement in the overall relationship, communication with the partner, and interpersonal conflicts. About two-fifths of the participants reported engaging in sexual intercourse more than twice a week or more. About one-fifth screened positive for psychiatric morbidity, with 14.2% screened positive for anxiety, 14.8% screened positive for depression and 8.7% screened positive for both. In both genders, presence of depression and anxiety were associated with lower sexual functioning in all the domains. Conclusion: Lockdown led to a reduction in the frequency of sexual intercourse, and reduction in the frequency of intimacy in the form of fondling, caressing, touching, or kissing partner when not doing sexual intercourse. However, lockdown led to the improvement in overall relationship and communication with the partners and a reduction in interpersonal conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). It mentions Risk factors included being female, nursing occupation, lower socioeconomic status, being at higher risk of contracting COVID‑19 and social isolation; and Protective factors included sufficient medical resources, up‑to‑date and accurate information, and taking precautionary measures.

Background: No information is available about the impact of lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health services in the private practice in India. Aim: The current study is aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the state of Mental Health Services in the Private Sector in India. Materials and Methods: An online survey was carried out using the Survey Monkey platform during the period of 1st to 15th May 2020 among the members of the Indian Psychiatric Society. Results: Three hundred and ninety six responses were analysed. There was a reduction in revenue generation by about 70%. All kinds of services, including outpatient services, inpatient services, psychotherapy services, consultation-liaison, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) services, were severely affected. One-third of the participants were using the teleservices during the pandemic. The most common problem faced in running the services included modifying the psychological treatment to maintain social distancing, and managing the staff. Besides providing clinical care to the patients, the majority of the mental health professionals reported that they were involved in increasing awareness about the mental health consequences of pandemic and the lockdown and addressing myths related to the spread of infection. Conclusion: The pandemic and the lockdown have markedly impacted mental health services in the private sector. ECT services, inpatient services, psychotherapy services and outpatient services are the most affected. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have led to the expansion of teleconsultation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is some information from different developed coutries that mental health services have been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Little information is available from India. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic on mental health services in India's various training centers. Materials and Methods: In an online survey, information was collected from various training centers of India through E-mail or WhatsApp. Results: Responses were received from 109 institutes. The majority of the responses were received from state-funded government medical colleges and private medical colleges. Since the lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic, brain stimulation treatments have completed stopped. Other, most affected services included electroconvulsive therapy, inpatient services, outpatient services, and psychotherapy services. However, there was an expansion of teleconsultations services because of the lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. In three-fourth of the centers mental health services were being provided to the patients with COVID-19 infection. In most of the institutes, mental health professionals were involved at different levels in the COVID-19 responsibilities. These included providing helpline services to the general public, screening people in quarantine for mental health issues, providing clinical care to COVID-19 patients, screening health care workers (HCWs) for mental health issues, and training the HCWs. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have led to the collapse of regular mental health services. The present study also shows that mental health professionals are playing a significant role in addressing the prevailing psychiatric morbidity, specifically related to the COVID-19 related issues, and taking care of the HCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a complete shut-down of the entire world and almost all the countries are presently in a "lockdown" mode. While the lockdown strategy is an essential step to curb the exponential rise of COVID-19 cases, the impact of the same on mental health is not well known. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic on the general public with an objective to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, well-being, and other psychological issues. Materials and Methods: It was an online survey conducted under the aegis of the Indian Psychiatry Society. Using the Survey Monkey platform, a survey link was circulated using the Whatsapp. The survey questionnaire included perceived stress scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale to assess perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and mental well-being, respectively. The survey link was circulated starting from April 6, 2020 and was closed on April 24, 2020. Results: During the survey, a total of 1871 responses were collected, of which 1685 (90.05%) responses were analyzed. About two-fifth (38.2%) had anxiety and 10.5% of the participants had depression. Overall, 40.5% of the participants had either anxiety or depression. Moderate level of stress was reported by about three-fourth (74.1%) of the participants and 71.7% reported poor well-being. Conclusions: The present survey suggests that more than two-fifths of the people are experiencing common mental disorders, due to lockdown and the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. This finding suggests that there is a need for expanding mental health services to everyone in the society during this pandemic situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]