Exploring the Mental Health Needs of Persons With Autoimmune Diseases During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Proposed Framework for Future Research and Clinical Care

Abstract

Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has been associated with increased psychological distress globally, it poses unique challenges to persons who are potentially more vulnerable to its effects, including patients with autoimmune disease. In this article, we review the published literature and media reports to determine factors that may contribute to mental health challenges in persons with autoimmune disease. We then explore existing mental health interventions that have been developed for use in COVID‐19 and in patients with autoimmune disorders in general. We identified several potential contributors to psychological distress in patients with autoimmune disease during the pandemic, as follows: feelings of discrimination related to societal response to COVID‐19, fear of infection and uncertainty related to immunosuppressive medication, diminished access to usual care and resources, previous health‐related trauma, and the exacerbating effect of social isolation. Drawing from existing literature, we synthesize the identified evidence to develop a proposed framework for researching and managing mental health challenges in autoimmune disease during the pandemic and its aftermath.