Risk Perception among Psychiatric Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Antimo Natale, Carmen Concerto, Alessandro Rodolico, Andrea Birgillito, Marina Bonelli, Miriam Martinez, Maria Salvina Signorelli, Antonino Petralia, Carmenrita Infortuna, Fortunato Battaglia and Eugenio Aguglia
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Antimo Natale: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Carmen Concerto: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Alessandro Rodolico: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Andrea Birgillito: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Marina Bonelli: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Miriam Martinez: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Maria Salvina Signorelli: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Antonino Petralia: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Carmenrita Infortuna: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98121 Messina, Italy
Fortunato Battaglia: Department of Medical Sciences and Neurology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
Eugenio Aguglia: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: The fear of the new coronavirus infection has driven many non-COVID-19 patients away from essential healthcare. Our study aimed to investigate the perception of risk and feelings of danger for the contagion in a sample of Italian psychiatric patients. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown in Italy. The risk perception and risk-related variables were assessed in a sample of 150 consecutive patients with a previous diagnosis of major depression (50), bipolar I disorder (50), and schizophrenia seeking ambulatory care using a questionnaire previously administered to the general Italian population. Our results showed that patients were more concerned about economic, psychological, and interpersonal consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, rather than about their own health. At the multiple regression analysis, the likelihood of COVID-19 resolution was positively influenced by the diagnosis of schizophrenia, the increased perceived effectiveness, and the presence of positive emotions. Indeed, positive emotions and uncertainty positively influenced interpersonal risk. Our study highlights the need to provide more support to psychiatric patients during emergency events to prevent them from engaging in risky behaviors.

Keywords: risk perception; COVID-19 pandemic; psychiatric patients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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