Psychological impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on health workers in a tertiary hospital

TLDR

The sudden emergence of SARS caused international anxiety due to its high contagion and pandemic potential, and health workers were especially vulnerable and at high risk of infection. The study aimed to assess SARS‑related stress and its immediate psychological impact and responses among health workers. Health workers at a tertiary hospital completed a questionnaire evaluating exposure experience, psychological impact, and psychiatric morbidity, with risk and rates of psychiatric morbidity estimated for exposure experience. Among 1,257 respondents, the outbreak produced a 75 % prevalence of psychiatric morbidity, with initial anxiety and later depression and avoidance, underscoring SARS as an acute bio‑disaster with significant mental health impact.

Abstract

Background The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused international anxiety owing to its highly contagious and pandemic transmission. Health workers are vulnerable and are at high risk of infection. Aims To assess SARS-related stress and its immediate psychological impact and responses among health workers. Method Health workers in a tertiary hospital affected by SARS were invited to complete a questionnaire designed to evaluate exposure experience, psychological impact and psychiatric morbidity. The risk and rates of psychiatric morbidity were estimated for exposure experience. Results Altogether, 1257 health workers successfully completed the survey. In the initial phase of the outbreak, when the infection was spreading rapidly, feelings of extreme vulnerability, uncertainty and threat to life were perceived, dominated by somatic and cognitive symptoms of anxiety. During the ‘repair’ phase, when the infection was being brought under control, depression and avoidance were evident. The estimated prevalence of psychiatric morbidity measured by the Chinese Health Questionnaire was about 75%. Conclusions The outbreak of SARS could be regarded as an acute episode of a bio-disaster, leading to a significantly high rate of psychiatric morbidity.