Dalle Grave, R (2020). Psychology Today, Mar 21th, 2020
In the past four weeks, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has dramatically expanded across the world with a major outbreak in Italy, my home country. As of March 21, 2020, the number of COVID-19 cases in Italy reached 53,578 with 4,825 total deaths.
To limit the COVID-19 diffusion, the Italian government decided to put the whole country on lockdown. Schools, universities, bars, hotels, and shops, except for those selling food, drugs, electronics, and warehouses, are closed, and the National Health System is trying to cope with the increasing number of patients needing ventilation support in intensive care units. In the last few days, other European countries and those in North America have adopted similar procedures.
On February 26, the Lancet published a review by Samantha Brooks and colleagues from King’s College in London of 24 studies on the psychological impact of quarantine. Most studies reported negative psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger. Stressors included longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, and stigma. Children and adolescents seem particularly at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the review.
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