SARS Control and Psychological Effects of Quarantine, Toronto, Canada

TLDR

SARS was globally contained through widespread quarantine, yet the adverse psychological effects of such measures had not been systematically assessed. The study aimed to examine the psychological effects of quarantine on individuals in Toronto, Canada. A hypothesis‑generating design using a convenience sample collected shortly after the quarantine period was employed. Among 129 quarantined respondents, 28.9% reported PTSD symptoms and 31.2% reported depression, with longer quarantine duration and personal exposure to SARS cases linked to higher rates of these symptoms.

Abstract

As a transmissible infectious disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was successfully contained globally by instituting widespread quarantine measures. Although these measures were successful in terminating the outbreak in all areas of the world, the adverse effects of quarantine have not previously been determined in a systematic manner. In this hypothesis-generating study supported by a convenience sample drawn in close temporal proximity to the period of quarantine, we examined the psychological effects of quarantine on persons in Toronto, Canada. The 129 quarantined persons who responded to a Web-based survey exhibited a high prevalence of psychological distress. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were observed in 28.9% and 31.2% of respondents, respectively. Longer durations of quarantine were associated with an increased prevalence of PTSD symptoms. Acquaintance with or direct exposure to someone with a diagnosis of SARS was also associated with PTSD and depressive symptoms.