Health Policy Manag.  2024 Sep;34(3):293-308. 10.4332/KJHPA.2024.34.3.293.

Changes in Mental Health Status of Patients in the Community Treatment Center during the Quarantine Period

• Seo JW
• Yoo J
• Jun JY
• Lee J

• KMID: 2562586
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2024.34.3.293

Abstract

Background
Assessing the change in mental health status of quarantined patients in community treatment centers at the time of admission and discharge, and inferring the influencing factors.
Methods
The study was conducted on a sample of 1,941 quarantined patients from three community treatment centers. Changes in anxiety, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, depression, and self-harm ideation between admission and discharge were categorized as either “improved” or “worsened.” Inference was performed to determine the probability of worsening in mental health status.
Results
The mental health status of quarantined patients, such as anxiety and depression, was relatively higher than that of the general population. Anxiety (84.3% improved) and psychological distress (79.0% improved) were reduced during quarantine treatment. However, some patients continued to experience moderate to severe levels of anxiety (11.2%) and psychological distress (11.0%) at discharge. As for depression, the depression of moderate or higher level was increased at the time of discharge (28.7%→36.7%) compared to admission. The deterioration of anxiety and psychological distress was found to be the most significant factor influencing the worsening of depression at discharge (odds ratio [OR] for anxiety deterioration, 2.04; OR for psychological distress deterioration, 3.56). These effects were also observed similarly in post-traumatic stress and self-injury ideation.
Conclusion
Improving anxiety and psychological distress among quarantined patients in community treatment centers can reduce the worsening of post-traumatic stress, depression, and self-injury ideation at the time of discharge. These findings provide evidence for the need for active mental health management from the initial stages of quarantine treatment.

Keyword

COVID-19; Mental health; Depression; Anxiety; Patient; Quarantine