Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
J Ment Health. 2021 Apr;30(2):138-147. doi: 10.1080/09638237.2021.1875424. Epub 2021 Jan 27.
People with existing mental health conditions may be particularly vulnerable to the psychological effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. But their positive and negative appraisals, and coping behaviour could prevent or ameliorate future problems.
To explore the emotional experiences, thought processes and coping behaviours of people with existing mental health problems and carers living through the pandemic.
UK participants who identified as a mental health service user (N18), a carer (N5) or both (N8) participated in 30-minute semi-structured remote interviews (31 March 2020 to 9 April 2020). The interviews investigated the effects of social distancing and self-isolation on mental health and the ways in which people were coping. Data were analysed using a framework analysis. Three service user researchers charted data into a framework matrix (consisting of three broad categories: "emotional responses", "thoughts" and "behaviours") and then used an inductive process to capture other contextual themes.
Common emotional responses were fear, sadness and anger but despite negative emotions and uncertainty appraisals, participants described efforts to cope and maintain their mental wellbeing. This emphasised an increased reliance on technology, which enabled social contact and occupational or leisure activities. Participants also spoke about the importance of continued and adapted mental health service provision, and the advantages and disadvantages associated with changes in their living environment, life schedule and social interactions.
This study builds on a growing number of qualitative accounts of how mental health service users and carers experienced and coped with extreme social distancing measures early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than a state of helplessness this study contains a clear message of resourcefulness and resilience in the context of fear and uncertainty.
患有现有心理健康问题的人可能特别容易受到 COVID-19 大流行的心理影响。但是，他们的积极和消极评估以及应对行为可以预防或改善未来的问题。
探讨患有现有心理健康问题的患者及其护理人员在大流行期间的情绪体验、思维过程和应对行为。
英国参与者自称为精神卫生服务使用者（N18）、护理人员（N5）或两者兼而有之（N8），参加了 30 分钟的半结构化远程访谈（2020 年 3 月 31 日至 4 月 9 日）。访谈调查了社交距离和自我隔离对心理健康的影响以及人们应对的方式。使用框架分析对数据进行分析。三名服务用户研究人员将数据编制到框架矩阵中（包括三个广泛的类别：“情绪反应”、“思想”和“行为”），然后使用归纳过程捕获其他背景主题。
常见的情绪反应是恐惧、悲伤和愤怒，但尽管存在负面情绪和不确定的评估，参与者仍描述了努力应对和维持心理健康的情况。这强调了对技术的更大依赖，这使社交接触和职业或休闲活动成为可能。参与者还谈到了持续和适应的心理健康服务提供的重要性，以及他们生活环境、生活日程和社交互动变化所带来的利弊。
本研究建立在越来越多的定性研究基础上，这些研究探讨了心理健康服务使用者和护理人员在 COVID-19 大流行初期如何体验和应对极端社交距离措施。与无助状态相反，这项研究在恐惧和不确定性的背景下传达了足智多谋和适应力的明确信息。
