The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may be considered a traumatic phenomenon. In a sample of subjects suffering from different psychiatric disorders, psychopathological status and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms over time are assessed using specific psychometric scales. In a sample of healthy controls PTSD symptoms are evaluated by Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R) and compared to patients' scores. We hypothesize that a significant number of psychiatric outpatients have experienced a clinical psychopathological worsening and a greater prevalence of PTSD symptoms compared to the general population. The study of the potential psychopathological changes could represent a useful contribution to deepen the understanding of psychological consequences of the pandemic.
SARS-CoV-2 epidemic is a worldwide phenomenon which generated fear, anxiety, depression and
PTSD symptoms, as a consequence of the high number of deaths and the restricted measures
adopted by the Italian Government to stem the spread of the virus.
The aims of the study are: (1) to investigate potential psychopathological changes over time
in a sample of patients affected by different psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, major depression, anxiety/Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), personality
disorders); (2) to compare patients and healthy controls in terms of post-traumatic symptoms.
Outpatients affected by different psychiatric disorders are recruited during their routine
visits and demographic/clinical variables are collected from their medical records.
Psychopathological status and PTSD symptoms are retrospectively assessed using specific
psychometric scales, such as Brief Psychiatry Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression
(CGI), Disability Scale (DISS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression
Rating Scale (HAM-D), Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Young Mania
Rating Scale (YMRS), Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), IES-R.
The assessment is performed over time at three time points: T0 corresponding to the outbreak
of the pandemic (January-February 2020), T1 which was the lockdown period (March-April 2020)
and T2 corresponding to the reopening and restarting (May-June 2020).
Descriptive analyses of the whole sample will be performed. Then, mixed linear regression
models will be run to investigate the change over time in patients' psychometric scores and
whether it differs among different diagnostic groups. Moreover, same analyses will be
performed to compare patients and healthy subjects in terms of change of IES-R scores over
time.
Other: Psychometric scale administration
PTSD symptoms are assessed using a specific scale (IES-R) and compared between the two groups
Inclusion Criteria:
- understanding of the Italian language
- ability to understand and sign written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- severe mental retardation
- pregnancy or post-partum period
- severe or chronic medical condition
- health workers
University of Milan Bicocca - Ospedale San Gerardo
Monza, MB, Italy
Investigator: Alice Caldiroli, MD
Contact: +393495009941
a.caldiroli@asst-monza.it
Alice Caldiroli, MD
+393495009941
a.caldiroli@asst-monza.it
Fabrizia Colmegna, MD, Principal Investigator
ASST Monza