EFFECTS OF QUARANTINE DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON RELAPSE AMONG ADULTS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS STRESS: CASE OF MATHARI MENTAL HOSPITAL
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: To examine the effects of quarantine due to Covid-19 pandemic on relapse among adults previously diagnosed with mental illness stress in Mathari Mental Hospital. Specifically the study sought to; determine the mental illness stress relapse rate among adults during Covid-19 pandemic period, establish the psychosocial effects of quarantine due to Covid-19 pandemic on mental illness stress relapse among adults, determine the level of access to treatment services among adults previously diagnosed with mental illness stress in Mathari Mental Hospital and recommend measures to be taken to protect adults previously diagnosed with mental illness stress against relapse in future pandemics.
Statement of the Problem: Studies have shown that due to lack of routine social tasks and also remaining at home for a longer time due to quarantine has impact the psychological well-being of adults previously diagnosed with mental illness stress.
Methodology: The study targeted all adults admitted at Mathari mental hospital with mental conditions and the units of analysis was made up of the healthcare providers at Mathari hospital and caregivers (family members) of the patients. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 10 healthcare providers and 40 caregivers. The collected data was analyzed with the aid of SPSS version 26.0 using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically using content analysis.
Result: There was an increase in relapse rate among adult patients previously diagnosed with mental illness stress in Mathari hospital since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. The study also found that most of the patients admitted with mental illness relapse had developed suicidal thoughts and others exhibited extreme irritability.
Conclusion: The largest public mental health impact has been in the form of stress and anxiety, and predicts a rise in depression, suicide and substance use among adults previously diagnosed with mental illness stress.
Recommendation: There is need for the government to develop a formal mental health response plan specific to the COVID-19 pandemic with allocation of funding for the response and training of community health workers and community health volunteers on psychological first aid to enable access to support for those in need during the pandemic.
Keywords: Quarantine, Mental illness stress, psychosocial effects, Level of access to treatment services, Relapse rate
References
Agenagnew, L. (2020). The Lifetime Prevalence and Factors Associated with Relapse Among Mentally Ill Patients at Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia: Cross Sectional Study. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health, 1-9.
Ahmed, S. A. S., Ajisola, M., Azeem, K., Bakibinga, P., Chen, Y. F., Choudhury, N. N., & Lilford, R. J. (2020). Impact of the societal response to COVID-19 on access to healthcare for non-COVID-19 health issues in slum communities of Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan: results of pre-COVID and COVID-19 lockdown stakeholder engagements. BMJ global health, 5(8), e003042.
Biliaminu, A., & Aina, J. O. (2020). Assessment Of Factors Associated With Treatment Relapse Among Patients Diagnosed With Psychotic Illness In Two Psychiatric Hospitals In South West, Nigeria. Assessment, 3(5), 12-53.
Brandon, T. H., Vidrine, J. I., & Litvin, E. B. (2007). Relapse and relapse prevention. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol., 3, 257-284.
Casagrande, M., Favieri, F., Tambelli, R., & Forte, G. (2020). The enemy who sealed the world: effects quarantine due to the COVID-19 on sleep quality, anxiety, and psychological distress in the Italian population. Sleep medicine, 75, 12-20.
Czeisler, M. É., Lane, R. I., Petrosky, E., Wiley, J. F., Christensen, A., Njai, R., & Czeisler, C. A. (2020). Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, June 24–30, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(32), 1049.
Daas, P., Ossen, S., Vis-Visschers, R. J. W. M., & Arends-Tóth, J. (2009). Checklist for the quality evaluation of administrative data sources. Statistics Netherlands Discussion Paper, 9042.
DiRocco, A., Liu, L., & Burrets, M. (2020). Enhancing Dialectical Behavior Therapy for the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder. Psychiatric Quarterly, 1-26.
Dong, L., & Bouey, J. (2020). Public mental health crisis during COVID-19 pandemic, China. Emerging infectious diseases, 26(7), 1616.
Druss, B. G. (2020). Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in populations with serious mental illness. JAMA psychiatry.
Fanta, T., Bekele, D., & Ayano, G. (2020). The prevalence and associated factors of depression among patients with schizophrenia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, cross-sectional study. BMC psychiatry, 20(1), 3.
Gathaiya, N. W., Mwaura, J., & Wagoro, M. C. A. (2018). A Cross-Sectional Study on Factors Associated with Relapse in Patients with Schizophrenia at Mathari Hospital, Nairobi Kenya. Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Research, 6(01), 1-5.
Gyasi, R. M. (2020). COVID-19 and Mental Health of Older Africans: An Urgency for Public Health Policy and Response Strategy. International Psychogeriatrics, 1-15.
Hanson, R. K. (1996). Evaluating the Contribution of Relapse Prevention Theory to the Treatment of Sexual Offenders1. Sexual Abuse, 8(3), 201-208.
Jaguga, F., & Kwobah, E. (2020). Mental health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: a review. International journal of mental health systems, 14(1), 1-6.
Kargin, M., & Hicdurmaz, D. (2020). Psychoeducation Program for Substance Use Disorder: Effect on Relapse Rate, Social Functioning, Perceived Wellness, and Coping. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services.
Kim, A. W., Nyengerai, T., & Mendenhall, E. (2020). Evaluating the Mental Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perceived Risk of COVID-19 Infection and Childhood Trauma Predict Adult Depressive Symptoms in Urban South Africa. Psychological Medicine, 1-24.
Lam, D. H., Watkins, E. R., Hayward, P., Bright, J., Wright, K., Kerr, N., & Sham, P. (2013). A randomized controlled study of cognitive therapy for relapse prevention for bipolar affective disorder: outcome of the first year. Archives of general psychiatry, 60(2), 145-152.
Linz, S. J., & Sturm, B. A. (2013). The phenomenon of social isolation in the severely mentally ill. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 49(4), 243-254.
Miu, A. S., Vo, H. T., Palka, J. M., Glowacki, C. R., & Robinson, R. J. (2020). Teletherapy with serious mental illness populations during COVID-19: telehealth conversion and engagement. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 1-18.
Montemurro, N. (2020). The emotional impact of COVID-19: From medical staff to common people. Brain, behavior, and immunity.
Olivares, J. M., Sermon, J., Hemels, M., & Schreiner, A. (2013). Definitions and drivers of relapse in patients with schizophrenia: a systematic literature review. Annals of general psychiatry, 12(1), 1-11.
Pfefferbaum, B., & North, C. S. (2020). Mental health and the Covid-19 pandemic. New England Journal of Medicine.
Shereen, M. A., Khan, S., Kazmi, A., Bashir, N., & Siddique, R. (2020). COVID-19 infection: Origin, transmission, and characteristics of human coronaviruses. Journal of Advanced Research.
Shinn, A. K., & Viron, M. (2020). Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Individuals with Serious Mental Illness. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 81(3), 0-0.
Ward, T., Purvis, M., & Devilly, G. (2004). Relapse prevention: theory and practice. Research Highlights in Social Work, 187-208.
