Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress in Resident Doctors, Exposed to SARS-COV-2 View PDF

^*Duarte JM
Department Of Neuropsychopharmacology, Division Of Teaching And Research, Hospital De Clínicas “José De San Martín”, University Of Buenos Aires, Argentina

^*Corresponding Author:

Duarte JM
Department Of Neuropsychopharmacology, Division Of Teaching And Research, Hospital De Clínicas “José De San Martín”, University Of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Email:jduarte@fmed.uba.ar

Published on: 2023-02-11

Abstract

Objective: Determine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of resident doctors of the Hospital de Clínicas, José de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina, one year after the total closure during the quarantine by COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: The following self-administered questionnaires were dispensed: a demographic survey, the Davidson Trauma Scale questionnaire, and the Scale of Dissociative Experiences (EED). First-year residents of basic specialties were excluded, and those who for their specialty does not have contact with patients and licensed doctors were excluded.
Results: PTSD prevalence was 24.3% (n = 25). The medium-sized ones were greater in the participants with a positive score for PTSD compared to those who did not present it (Mann-Whitney U: 13.30, p = 0.001). Associations between the genre were found (X2: 6,074, p = 0.013), the PTSD, and the type of specialty (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.017). No other associations were found between the other variables analyzed and PTSD.
Conclusion: The prevalence of PTSD was similar to the previous reports. Associations between this disorder, gender, and type of specialty were found. These results should draw the attention of health systems to establish preventive and therapeutic measures to handle this situation.

Keywords

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Dissociative Disorder; COVID-19; Mental Health; Medical Residency

Introduction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was introduced in the DSM-III by doctors who observed victims of very stressful events. This disorder was previously called the battle clash, traumatic neurosis, war neurosis, Konzentryns-lager syndrome, and post-disaster syndrome: a series of emotional and cognitive responses in those who suffered psychological traumas of diverse magnitude [1].
The diagnostic criteria of PTSD, according to the DSM-5, correspond to the background (death or threats to physical integrity) and their responses (fear, hopelessness, or great horror); Additionally, the symptoms of re-experimentation, avoidance, activation, intrusion, dissociation, cognitive disorders, and self-management behaviors [2] are described.
In a study conducted through a survey of doctors, residents, and doctors with hierarchical positions, it was found that, during the strict closing period in the Argentine Republic, 93.7% of the participants had positive scores for stress, according to Wolfgang questionnaire; 73.5% presented positive scores for generalized professional exhaustion syndrome (Burnout), according to the Maslach questionnaire; 44% and 29% with positive results for anxiety and depression, respectively, based on the hospital depression and anxiety scale. It was evidenced that resident doctors with greater contact with infected patients had higher values.
Therefore, the objective of this research is to determine the prevalence, through a self-administered survey, of post-traumatic stress syndrome in the population of resident doctors of the Hospital of Clinics “José de San Martín”, a year after a strict isolation quarantine by SARS-CoV-2.