Korean J Schizophr Res.  2023 Oct;26(2):61-69. 10.16946/kjsr.2023.26.2.61.

Perceptions of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Patients With Schizophrenia

• Park S
• Yi K
• Seo HJ
• Kang Y
• Ha R

• KMID: 2547423
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.16946/kjsr.2023.26.2.61

Abstract

Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with schizophrenia are aware of the current status and have accurate information about COVID-19.
Methods
The participants consisted of 161 inpatients and 117 outpatients with schizophrenia and 40 normal controls. The subjects completed self-report questionnaires measuring changes in their daily life, their perceptions of the current status of COVID-19 and their basic knowledge about the disease.
Results
Compared to the normal control group, the inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia underestimated the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and overestimated the mortality rate of COVID-19. The mortality rates of COVID-19 and the common cold were higher in the order of inpatients, outpatients, and normal controls. The main route of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the main symptoms of COVID-19 were accurately recognized by more than 95% in the normal group and more than 80% in outpatients, but inpatients chose the correct answers at a lower rate. In the questions about misperceptions about COVID-19, the correct answer rate was high in the order of normal controls, outpatients, and inpatients. Most patients with schizophrenia obtained information about COVID-19 on TV, while most normal controls collected information through the internet.
Conclusion
This study showed that awareness of COVID-19 among patients with schizophrenia is insufficient. Additional measures are needed to provide accurate information and the current status of COVID-19 to patients with schizophrenia.

Keyword

COVID-19; Perceptions; Schizophrenia

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Answers to changes in daily life due to COVID-19 (multiple responses). *p＜0.05; ***p＜0.001.

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  Fig. 2. Answers to the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Korea. Statistics were analyzed by chi-square test. p＜0.001.

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  Fig. 3. Answers to mortality rate of COVID-19 in Korea. Statistics were analyzed by chi-square test. p＜0.001.

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  Fig. 4. Answers to mortality from a common cold. Statistics were analyzed by chi-square test. p＜0.05.

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  Fig. 5. Proportion of the main transmission route of COVID-19 selected by participants. Statistics were analyzed by chi-square test. p＜0.001.

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  Fig. 6. Proportion of participants who replied “yes” to each item to identify the main symptoms of COVID-19 infection (multiple responses). Statistics were analyzed by chi-square test. *p＜0.05; ***p＜0.001.

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  Fig. 7. Proportion of participants who replied “yes” to each item to identify whether each of these 10 actions act as prevention measures against COVID-19 infection (multiple responses). Statistics were analyzed by chi-square test. *p＜0.05; ***p＜0.001.

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  Fig. 8. Proportion of participants who replied “yes” toeach item to identify misperceptions about COVID-19. Statistics were analyzed by chi-square test. *p＜0.05; ***p＜0.001.

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  Fig. 9. Proportion of participants who replied “yes” toeach item to identify ways to obtain information about COVID-19 (multiple responses). Statistics were analyzed by chi-square test. *p＜0.05; ***p＜0.001.

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