Psychopathological Burden among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to the Pre-Pandemic Period

Sara Gostoli, Angelica D’Oronzo, Carlotta Malaguti, Francesco Guolo, Cristian Balducci, Regina Subach, Vittorio Lodi, Carmine Petio () and Chiara Rafanelli
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Sara Gostoli: Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Angelica D’Oronzo: Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Carlotta Malaguti: Occupational Health Unit, Bologna University Hospital Authority St. Orsola Malpighi Polyclinic IRCCS, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Francesco Guolo: Division of Cardiology, Bellaria Hospital, AUSL Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Cristian Balducci: Department of Quality of Life Sciences, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
Regina Subach: Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Vittorio Lodi: Occupational Health Unit, Bologna University Hospital Authority St. Orsola Malpighi Polyclinic IRCCS, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Carmine Petio: Department of Psychiatry, Bologna University Hospital Authority St. Orsola Malpighi Polyclinic IRCCS, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Chiara Rafanelli: Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 24, 1-13

Abstract: This retrospective observational study on hospital staff requesting an “application visit” (from 2017 to 2022) at the Occupational Medicine department aimed at comparing a “pre-COVID group” (2017–2019) with a “COVID group” (2020–2022) regarding (a) sociodemographic data (i.e., age, sex, occupation, years of employment at the hospital), (b) rate and type of psychiatric diagnoses in both groups and rate of psychiatric diagnoses per subject, and (c) rate of drug/psychotherapeutic prescriptions. Two hundred and five healthcare workers (F = 73.7%; mean age = 50.7 ± 10.33) were visited. Compared with the pre-COVID group, healthcare workers evaluated during COVID-19 were significantly younger and reported fewer years of employment at the hospital. Although rates of primary psychiatric diagnoses were similar in both samples, an increased number of psychopathologies per subject and associated treatment prescriptions in the COVID group was observed. In the COVID group, 61% had one psychiatric diagnosis, and 28% had 2+ psychiatric diagnoses, compared with 83.8% and 6.7% of pre-COVID. Furthermore, 56.2%/1.9% in pre-COVID and 73%/6% in the COVID group were prescribed drugs/psychotherapy, respectively. The findings of the present study highlighted an increase in both younger workers’ requests and psychiatric comorbidities during the pandemic, representing a burden on the Italian healthcare system. It is thus relevant to address the mental health challenges of healthcare workers accordingly.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare workers; occupational medicine; psychiatric diagnosis; psychopathological burden (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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