Measurement of COVID-19 related mental health problems

Abstract

Introduction The spread of the corona virus (COVID-19) has an enormous psychosocial impact on humanity across the globe, resulting in an increase in mental health issues. There are no specific diagnostic instruments that could identify COVID-19 related mental health problems. In recent months, new scales have been developed to identify COVID-19 related problems. Objectives Our objective was to investigate the clinical utility of these new assessment instruments. Methods We performed a literature search, using Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane library databases, to search for new scales identifying COVID-19 related mental health problems. Results During the first half of the year 2020, we found five published new self-report measurement instruments: Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), the COVID Stress Scales (CSS), the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), and the Questionnaire on Perception of Threat from COVID-19. These instruments have been validated in a group of middle-aged ambulatory patients. Conclusions These new instruments might be useful in non-clinical settings. Although the psychometric reports are promising, the instruments have been validated in a less vulnerable group of patients. Future validation studies should also comprise other age groups, particularly the old and more vulnerable population. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• mental health
• Covid-19