Long-term psychiatric morbidities among SARS survivors

Area of Science:

• Infectious disease epidemiology
• Psychiatry
• Public health

Background:

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was a major 21st-century infectious disease outbreak.
• Future outbreaks are probable, necessitating an understanding of their long-term health impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term psychiatric morbidities in survivors of the SARS outbreak.
• To evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and functional outcomes 30 months post-SARS.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 90 SARS survivors.
• Assessment of psychiatric disorders using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV.
• Evaluation of trauma, anxiety, and depression using validated scales.
• Measurement of functional outcomes with the SF-36 Health Survey.

Main Results:

• A high cumulative incidence of 58.9% for DSM-IV psychiatric disorders post-SARS.
• At 30 months, 33.3% of survivors had a current psychiatric disorder.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affected 25% of survivors, and depressive disorders affected 15.6%.

Conclusions:

• The SARS outbreak resulted in a significant mental health burden.
• PTSD and depressive disorders were the most prevalent long-term psychiatric conditions.
• Enhanced healthcare preparedness is crucial for managing psychological sequelae of future infectious disease outbreaks.