Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute For Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Health Expect. 2024 Feb;27(1):e13983. doi: 10.1111/hex.13983.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related restrictions globally impacted mental health, particularly for those with pre-existing severe mental illness (SMI). This qualitative study examined how adults with SMI perceived the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions in the Netherlands, focusing on their personal recovery, well-being and daily life, including an exploration of factors influencing these effects.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied. Purposive sampling was used to ensure diversity of individuals with SMI (i.e., age, gender, diagnosis, cultural background and mental healthcare institution).
Twenty participants (median age: 45 years [SD: 12, 8]; 11 females) were interviewed between May and July 2023. Findings revealed a wide range of experiences: while some individuals reported a negative impact on their existing psychiatric symptoms, others described adaptability, resilience and even positive effects of COVID-19 restrictions on their mental health and well-being. Factors influencing the heterogeneic perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions include the availability of trusted social relationships and enduring interactions with health professionals.
Personalised support, both socially and professionally, is crucial for addressing fears, building resilience, reducing isolation and encouraging positive coping strategies for individuals with SMI during external crises. In this project, a participatory research approach that integrated the lived experience perspective helped uncover the unique perceptions of people with SMI with regard to the pandemic and related restrictions.
The study used a participatory action research approach, with experts-by-experience involved in every stage of the project as part of the research team. This included engagement with the funding application process, recruitment strategies for interviews, developing the interview guide, piloting the interview, interpreting findings, and knowledge dissemination activities.
2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行及全球相关限制措施对心理健康产生了影响，尤其是对那些患有严重精神疾病（SMI）的人。本定性研究调查了荷兰患有 SMI 的成年人如何看待 COVID-19 大流行及相关限制措施的影响，重点关注他们的个人康复、幸福感和日常生活，包括对影响这些影响的因素进行探索。
进行了半结构化访谈，录音并逐字转录。应用反思性主题分析。采用目的性抽样以确保 SMI 个体的多样性（即年龄、性别、诊断、文化背景和精神保健机构）。
2023 年 5 月至 7 月期间对 20 名参与者（中位数年龄：45 岁[标准差：12，8]；11 名女性）进行了访谈。研究结果显示了广泛的经历：虽然一些人报告说 COVID-19 对他们现有的精神科症状有负面影响，但其他人描述了适应性、韧性，甚至 COVID-19 限制对他们的心理健康和幸福感的积极影响。影响 COVID-19 大流行和相关限制的异质感知的因素包括可信赖的社会关系的可用性和与卫生专业人员的持久互动。
在外部危机期间，为 SMI 患者提供个性化的社会和专业支持对于解决恐惧、建立韧性、减少隔离和鼓励积极应对策略至关重要。在这个项目中，一种参与式研究方法，将经验专家纳入项目的每个阶段作为研究团队的一部分，帮助揭示了 SMI 患者对大流行和相关限制的独特看法。
该研究采用参与式行动研究方法，经验专家作为研究团队的一部分参与项目的每个阶段，包括参与资助申请过程、访谈招募策略、制定访谈指南、试行访谈、解释研究结果以及知识传播活动。
