Assessing Anxiety and Depression among ICU Nurses' Caring for Psychiatric Clients during COVID-19 Outbreak

Abstract

Worldwide the health systems are under unprecedented pressure of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses on the front line not only experiencing physical but also psychological challenges. The current study examines the psychological distress experienced by ICU nurses handling psychiatric clients during a global epidemic, with a focus on anxiety and distress scores evaluated by utilizing the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The research, carried out in multiple hospitals using a cross-sectional survey of 300 ICU nurses, assessed their experiences through HADS examinations. The results reveal that 45 percent of the nurses exhibited clinically significant anxiety levels, while 40 percent demonstrated abnormal levels of depression. Younger, less experienced nurses reported more psychological distress, as did those caring for a larger number of psychiatric patients. The results underscore the significance of dedicated mental health assistance also tailored education for ICU nurses, particularly those caring for mentally ill patients in a respiratory isolation ward or other high-pressure setting. These outcomes emphasize the importance of measures to help healthcare professionals cope with mental health issues during global health crises.