The impact of confinement on anxiety rates of the entourage of patients in the psychiatric hospital of Tunis

Abstract

Introduction

The confinement did begot a recrudescence in the rate of stress within populations. Meanwhile, research targeting the mental health of the psychiatric patients’ accompanyings are scarce.

Objectives

Detect and evaluate anxiety levels of patients’ entourage during confinement.

Methods

It is a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study based on a random sample of People accompanying psychiatric patients from externals consultations service in the only Psychiatric Hospital in Tunisia. Data were been collected during the month of June 2020 via a 20 items questionnaire and a score HAD issued in Arabic.

Results

One hundred thirty five accompanyings were surveyed. The age group was predominantly between 51 and 60 with a sex ratio of 0.31. Near half was the parents. eighty seven were unemployed, 38 stopped working due to confinement and 10 have been worked normally. A pathological anxiety HAD score (>7) was found in 36 accompanyings (26, 67 %). Amongst them, 19 had manifested symptoms. Anxiety levels are significantly much higher in accompanyings of patients with personality disorders (p=0.053). Otherwise, 52, 6% of accompanyings who stopped working felt more under pressure than before lockdown. In contrary to those who did not worked before at all (29.9 %) and those who continued working (10%).

Conclusions

It seems that the entourage of mentally ill patients experience a continuous psychological distress, which was uncovered and marked in confinement period. Thus, it is necessary to establish screening programs, psychological education and early care to ensure their well-being.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.