key: cord-0929974-yi3qf7ku
authors: Prabhu, Anusha Mahesh; Rashad, Intishar
title: More research needed into long-term medical student mental health during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
date: 2021-06-03
journal: BJPsych bulletin
DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2021.49
sha: 9d5c68b5d5016a3323dbbe6b790115ab15e2d33d
doc_id: 929974
cord_uid: yi3qf7ku

nan

The mental health of healthcare professionals has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 1 We believe that more research focusing specifically on the long-term mental health of medical students is required. Medical students are an at-risk group, with a greater incidence of anxiety 2 than the general population, and a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation than physicians and nurses. 3 The risk is further compounded by being young, 1 having higher awareness of disease severity, and possessing common personality traits such as maladaptive perfectionism and difficulty adapting to disruption in routine. 2 Medical students often face a sense of duty to volunteer in hospitals in times of global health emergencies such as the current pandemic, which can bring particular emotional challenges. The subsequent higher risk of transmitting COVID-19 may cause increased social isolation. Uncertainty around medical education due to cancelled exams and placements also increases stress. 4 Although a recent meta-analysis showed no difference in anxiety during COVID-19 in medical students, 2 isolated studies worldwide have shown increased anxiety in those whose loved ones had contracted COVID-19 and who had interacted with COVID-19 patients. 4 Higher levels of baseline stress and depression are negative predictors of poor mental health, 1 so more research must be done to identify those especially at risk. Those with preexisting mental health issues have reported decreased access to the usual support services during the pandemic. 1 To our knowledge, there is no available literature exploring the impact of COVID-19 on medical students with pre-existing mental illness. Experiences in previous pandemics such as SARS show that long-term mental health issues such as alcohol misuse and post-traumatic stress symptoms can persist for several years in healthcare workers who have been quarantined or have worked in high-risk areas. 5 The majority of current studies of mental health in COVID-19 have been cross-sectional, and few have focused on medical students. Longitudinal, large-scale, multi-country studies focusing on medical students of all age groups and investigating more variables, such as pre-existing mental illness, are required to identify those most at risk and the long-term effects on this population. The results of these studies could be used to improve future implementation of targeted medical student-specific mental healthcare interventions. 1 Anusha Mahesh Prabhu, Imperial College London, UK. Email: anusha. prabhu@hotmail.com; Intishar Rashad, Armed Forces Medical College, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka-1206, Bangladesh. Email: intisharrashad@gmail. com

How mental health care should change as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic

Prevalence of anxiety in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis

Prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours among medical professionals: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the mental health status of undergraduate medical students in a COVID-19 treating medical college: a prospective longitudinal study

Alcohol abuse/ dependence symptoms among hospital employees exposed to a SARS outbreak

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Both authors have contributed equally in preparing this article.

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