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What about heart and mind in the COVID-19 era?
Marianna Mazza1, Giuseppe Marano2, Barbara Antonazzo3
1Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy - mariannamazza@hotmail.com.
Insights
Chronic stress and trauma negatively impact heart-brain interactions, increasing risks for cardiovascular disease and mental illness. Early psychological support is crucial for vulnerable populations during stressful events like pandemics.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Psychoneuroimmunology
Background:
- Heart-brain interactions have been recognized since ancient Greece, influencing mental and physical health.
- These interactions are complex, multifaceted, and bidirectional.
- Chronic stressors and psychological trauma can negatively affect the cardiovascular system and emotional well-being, increasing disease risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the bidirectional relationship between the heart and brain.
- To emphasize the impact of stressors like quarantine and trauma on cardiovascular and mental health.
- To underscore the need for psychological interventions during stressful periods.
Main Methods:
- This study is a review of existing literature on heart-brain interactions and stress.
- It synthesizes information on the effects of psychological burden on individuals with comorbidities.
- It discusses the implications of events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Results:
- Stressors can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mental illness.
- Individuals with existing heart and mental health conditions are more vulnerable to emotional burdens.
- Emotional responses during crises include fear, panic, anger, and frustration.
Conclusions:
- Psychological services and crisis interventions are essential for mitigating anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
- Early intervention is critical, especially for vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly.
- Addressing the psychological impact of stressful events is vital for overall health outcomes.
Abstract:
From the time of Hippocratic medicine, heart-brain interactions have been recognized and contributed to both mental and physical health. Heart-brain interactions are complex and multifaceted and appear to be bidirectional. Exposure to chronic and daily stressors such as quarantine, or severe psychological trauma like a significant person in danger of life can affect the cardiovascular system and the emotional experience of the individual, leading to an increased risk of developing a cardiovascular disease or mental illness. Subjects with comorbidities between mental disorders and heart diseases are obviously more susceptible to be influenced by emotional burden due to the spread of COVID-19, with emotional responses characterized by fear, panic, anger, frustration. Psychological services and crisis interventions are needed at an early stage to reduce anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in such a stressful period, with a special attention to special groups of patients, such as women, children, or the elderly.
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