Mood Emot.  2023 Nov;21(3):61-70. 10.35986/me.2023.21.3.61.

Affective State and Corresponding Psychophysiological Findings of Healthcare Workers in Coronavirus Disease of 2019 Screening Centers

• Choi SJ
• Yoon BH
• Yun H
• Kim K
• Jeong Y
• Kang H
• Song JH
• Sea YH
• Park S

• KMID: 2552397
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.35986/me.2023.21.3.61

Abstract

Background
This study explores the impact of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers in COVID-19 Screening Centers, focusing on anxiety and depression and their psychophysiological findings.
Methods
The research involved 610 healthcare workers in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, South Korea, from March to November 2022. Self-reported questionnaires and psychophysiological measurements using Neuronicle FX2 (Omnifitmindcare ® ) were employed.
Results
Among 610 participants (107 males, 503 females), the high-risk anxiety group (60 individuals, 15 males and 45 females) and high-risk depression group (79 individuals, 19 males and 60 females) showed elevated physical symptoms compared to the normal group. The high-risk anxiety group exhibited lower mean r-r intervals, higher heart rate per minute, greater stress index, and lower vigor index. For electroencephalogram (EEG) measures, the high-risk anxiety group showed higher brain activity, lower alpha asymmetry, reduced total theta power, and higher beta/theta (left, right, total) ratios. The high-risk depression group showed significantly lower alpha asymmetry in EEG.
Conclusion
This study explored anxiety and depression prevalence among healthcare workers in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region at COVID-19 testing centers. Correlations between mental states and physical symptoms were observed, emphasizing the potential of EEG and heart rate variability as physiological indicators in psychiatric evaluations during the pandemic.

Keyword

COVID-19 pandemic; Health personnel; Depression; Anxiety; Brain waves; Photoplethysmography