Caton Emma, Chaplin Hema, Carpenter Lewis, Sweeney Melissa, Tung Hsiu Yen, de Souza Savia, Galloway James, Nikiphorou Elena, Norton Sam
Health Psychology Section, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 5th Floor, Bermondsey Wing, Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King's College London, London, UK.
BMC Rheumatol. 2022 Jun 29;6(1):37. doi: 10.1186/s41927-022-00266-y.
During the first UK COVID-19 lockdown, studies identified over half of inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients in the UK reported a worsening of emotional distress. Given the prolonged nature of the pandemic, and the strict 'shielding' restrictions imposed on 'extremely clinically vulnerable' populations, it is likely that the implementation of the second lockdown period in England, during November 2020, may also have had a negative impact on the mental health of IA patients. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore the impact of consecutive lockdown periods on mental wellbeing in people with IA.
Nine IA patients took part in semi-structured telephone interviews at both baseline (June/July 2020) and follow-up (November 2020). The interview schedule, which was developed and piloted with a Patient Research Partner, explored patient experiences and mental health impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown periods. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Five males and four females, with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or spondylarthritis, aged between 24-79 years (mean = 49.9, SD = 20.9) were included in the sample. Four main themes impacting on mental wellbeing were identified from the data: (1) Pandemic fatigue versus pandemic acclimatisation, (2) Social interaction and isolation, (3) Clarity of information, (4) Seasonal changes.
The first two COVID-19 lockdown periods in England had an ongoing impact on the mental health of patients with IA. Healthcare professionals, in conjunction with government support, should ensure that adequate information and mental health resources are available to support IA patients during periods of ongoing restrictions, whilst also continuing to encourage behaviours which promote good mental health and wellbeing.
在英国首次实施新冠疫情封锁期间，研究发现英国超过半数的炎症性关节炎（IA）患者报告称情绪困扰加剧。鉴于疫情的长期性，以及对“临床极度脆弱”人群实施的严格“防护”限制措施，2020年11月英格兰实施的第二轮封锁期可能也对IA患者的心理健康产生了负面影响。本研究的目的是定性探索连续封锁期对IA患者心理健康的影响。
9名IA患者在基线期（2020年6月/7月）和随访期（2020年11月）接受了半结构化电话访谈。访谈提纲是与患者研究伙伴共同制定并进行预试验的，探讨了新冠疫情封锁期对患者的经历和心理健康的影响。采用归纳主题分析法对访谈进行分析。
样本包括5名男性和4名女性，患有类风湿关节炎、银屑病关节炎或脊柱关节炎，年龄在24 - 79岁之间（平均年龄 = 49.9岁，标准差 = 20.9岁）。从数据中确定了影响心理健康的四个主要主题：（1）疫情疲劳与疫情适应，（2）社交互动与隔离，（3）信息清晰度，（4）季节变化。
英格兰的前两轮新冠疫情封锁期对IA患者的心理健康产生了持续影响。医疗保健专业人员应在政府支持下，确保在持续限制期间为IA患者提供足够的信息和心理健康资源，同时继续鼓励促进良好心理健康和幸福的行为。
