Psychiatric inpatients' reactions to the SARS epidemic: an Israeli survey.
BACKGROUND
The threat of the potential spreading of the SARS epidemic caused significant stress to many individuals from non-affected countries. In this study, we investigated whether the SARS threat affected the subjective mood and behavior of Israeli patients with schizophrenia and compared their reactions with those noted in their clinical staff.


METHODS
Subjects were evaluated with a specially designed questionnaire and a modified form of the Spielberger Scale for State Anxiety.


RESULTS
As compared to staff, patients had higher scores on the Modified Spielberger State Anxiety Scale. However, many responses (e.g., dysphoria) to the SARS threat did not differ from staff. Patients felt more protected by the authorities and some perceived the epidemic in a psychotic manner.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems that patients attempt to reduce the effect of external stressors by living in an "autistic bubble" (in which outside threats cannot enter) or by denying the significance of these stressors and over-emphasizing the power of medical authorities to protect them. On the other hand, some patients also psychotically interpreted these stressors.
Iancu
Iulian
I
Beer Yaakov Mental Health Center, Israel. iulian1@bezeqint.net
Strous
Rael
R
Poreh
Amir
A
Kotler
Moshe
M
Chelben
Yossi
Y
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires