Psychological impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on health workers in a tertiary hospital.
BACKGROUND
The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused international anxiety owing to its highly contagious and pandemic transmission. Health workers are vulnerable and are at high risk of infection.


OBJECTIVE
To assess SARS-related stress and its immediate psychological impact and responses among health workers.


METHODS
Health workers in a tertiary hospital affected by SARS were invited to complete a questionnaire designed to evaluate exposure experience, psychological impact and psychiatric morbidity. The risk and rates of psychiatric morbidity were estimated for exposure experience.


RESULTS
Altogether, 1257 health workers successfully completed the survey. In the initial phase of the outbreak, when the infection was spreading rapidly, feelings of extreme vulnerability, uncertainty and threat to life were perceived, dominated by somatic and cognitive symptoms of anxiety. During the 'repair' phase, when the infection was being brought under control, depression and avoidance were evident. The estimated prevalence of psychiatric morbidity measured by the Chinese Health Questionnaire was about 75%.


CONCLUSIONS
The outbreak of SARS could be regarded as an acute episode of a bio-disaster, leading to a significantly high rate of psychiatric morbidity.
Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung, 123 Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung County 83342, Taiwan. mchong@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Mian-Yoon
MY
Chong
Wen-Chih
WC
Wang
Wen-Chien
WC
Hsieh
Chun-Yi
CY
Lee
Nien-Mu
NM
Chiu
Wei-Chiang
WC
Yeh
Otiao-Lai
OL
Huang
Jong-Kwang
JK
Wen
Chao-Long
CL
Chen
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan