Mental illness in the general population and health workers during the covid-19 pandemic: systematic review

Abstract

Objective: to identify and analyze the literature on mental illness in the general population and health professionals in the context of the new coronavirus pandemic. Method: systematic review in the MEDLINE / PubMed, SCOPUS, Web Of Science, PsycINFO and Science Direct databases, using the keywords “COVID-19”, “coronavirus infection”, “coronavirus”, “2019-nCoV”, “2019 novel coronavirus disease ”,“ SARS-CoV-2 ”,“ health personnel ”,“ general public ”and“ mental health ”. 1,168 articles were found. Results: 27 articles were analyzed, most of which were transversal, of which 19 (70%) dealt with the prevalence of mental illness in the general population, six (22%) in doctors and nurses, one (4%) in other health professionals and one (4%) in the general population and nurses. Twenty symptoms of mental illness were identified. Conclusion: the pandemic of the new coronavirus triggered, more frequently, anxiety, depression, stress and post-traumatic stress disorders in the general population and health professionals. Women, students and nurses are among the most affected.