Possible posttraumatic stress disorder in Chinese frontline healthcare workers who survived COVID-19 6 months after the COVID-19 outbreak: prevalence, correlates, and symptoms

Suffering from COVID-19 and witnessing the suffering and deaths of patients with COVID-19 may place frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) at particularly high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, few data are available on the clinical characteristics of PTSD among frontline HCWs who survived COVID-19 (surviving HCWs hereafter). The present study examined the prevalence, correlates, and clinical symptoms of possible PTSD in surviving HCWs 6 months after the COVID-19 outbreak in China. A total of 291 surviving HCWs and 42 age- and gender-matched COVID-19-free frontline HCWs (control group) were recruited and administered the Chinese Essen Trauma Inventory, which was used to assess the presence of possible PTSD according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Survivors' clinical data and characteristics of exposure to COVID-19 were collected via self-report questionnaires. Surviving HCWs had significantly higher rates of possible PTSD than controls (19.9% vs. 4.8%, P=0.017). Correlates of PTSD in survivors were ICU admission (OR=8.73, P=0.003), >10 respiratory symptoms during the most symptomatic period of COVID-19 (OR=3.08, P=0.006), the residual symptom of dizziness (OR=2.43, P=0.013), the residual symptom of difficult breathing (OR=2.23, P=0.027), life in danger due to COVID-19 (OR=16.59, P=0.006), and exposure to other traumatic events (OR=2.94, P=0.035). Less commonly seen PTSD symptoms in survivors were having nightmares about the event (34.5%), suddenly feeling like they were living through the event suddenly (25.9%), being unable to remember an important part of the event (32.8%), and overalertness (31.0%). Nearly one-fifth of the surviving HCWs had possible PTSD 6 months after the COVID-19 outbreak. Mental health services for this vulnerable population should include periodic screening for PTSD, expanded social support, and, when necessary, psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatment.

Automated summary

This study examined the possible PTSD among surviving frontline healthcare workers who experienced COVID-19, with 19.9% of survivors showing signs of PTSD. Factors such as ICU admission, multiple respiratory symptoms, life-threatening situations, exposure to other traumatic events were associated with higher risk of PTSD in survivors.