Mental illness in the general population and health professionals during COVID-19: A scoping review

Abstract

Objective: to map the literature on mental illness in the general population and in health professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: scoping review in the MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Science Direct databases and in the medRxiv, bioRxiv and PsyArXiv preprint servers, using the descriptors “Covid-19”, “coronavirus infection”, “coronavirus”, “2019-nCoV”, “2019 new coronavirus disease”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “health personnel”, “general public” and “mental health”. Results: 1,168 articles were found, among which 27 were analyzed. 19 (70%) dealt with the prevalence of mental illness in the general population, six (22%) in doctors and nurses, one (4%) in other health professionals and one (4%) in the general population and nurses. 19 symptoms of mental illness were identified. Conclusion: the Covid-19 pandemic triggered anxiety, depression, stress and post-traumatic stress disorders in the general population and health professionals more often. Women, students and nurses are among the most affected.