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. 2009 Jul-Aug;31(4):318-26.
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.03.001. Epub 2009 Apr 15.

Long-term psychiatric morbidities among SARS survivors

Ivan Wing Chit Mak  1 , Chung Ming Chu, Pey Chyou Pan, Michael Gar Chung Yiu, Veronica Lee Chan
Affiliations

Long-term psychiatric morbidities among SARS survivors

Ivan Wing Chit Mak et al. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2009 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was the first massive infectious disease outbreak of the 21st century. However, it is unlikely that this outbreak will be the last. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term psychiatric morbidities in survivors of SARS.

Method: This is a cohort study designed to investigate psychiatric complications among SARS survivors treated in the United Christian Hospital 30 months after the SARS outbreak. Psychiatric morbidities were assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, the Impact of Events Scale-Revised and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Functional outcomes were assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey.

Results: Ninety subjects were recruited, yielding a response rate of 96.8%. Post-SARS cumulative incidence of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders was 58.9%. Current prevalence for any psychiatric disorder at 30 months post-SARS was 33.3%. One-fourth of the patients had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 15.6% had depressive disorders.

Conclusion: The outbreak of SARS can be regarded as a mental health catastrophe. PTSD was the most prevalent long-term psychiatric condition, followed by depressive disorders. Our results highlight the need to enhance preparedness and competence of health care professionals in detecting and managing the psychological sequelae of future comparable infectious disease outbreaks.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sample recruitment.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Venn diagram showing psychiatric comorbidities at 30 months post-SARS (the numbers indicate the number of subjects suffering from current psychiatric diagnoses at 30 months post-SARS; area does not indicate real proportion).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Was SARS a mental health catastrophe?
    Maunder RG. Maunder RG. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2009 Jul-Aug;31(4):316-7. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.04.004. Epub 2009 May 22. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2009. PMID: 19555790 Free PMC article. Review. No abstract available.

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