Mental health issues among critical care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: the multinational PSYCOVID cross-sectional study

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has presented a challenging situation for frontline healthcare workers. This study aimed to assess the frequency and severity of mental health issues among critical care providers (CCPs) during the early phase of the pandemic and to determine associated factors. It was a cross-sectional study conducted from May 2020 to August 2020. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect CCPs characteristics and psychological impact as evaluated by three validated inventory scales: the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Among 244 participants, fear was prevalent, involving risk of infection 79(32.4%), family exposure 201(82.4%), lack of PPEs 86(35.2%), increased workload and insufficient social support 101(41.4%), lack of sufficient communication 99(40.6%), and stigmatization 63(25.8%). High prevalence rates were observed for burnout (personal 54.1%, work-related 55.3%, patient-related 41.8%), depression (67.2%), anxiety (63.1%), and stress (58.6%). Additionally, 27% met criteria for probable PTSD. Multivariate analysis identified significant associations between female sex, nursing profession, and working in a low- and middle-income country with various mental health outcomes. Understanding the psychological challenges faced by these providers can inform the development of more effective preparedness and response strategies for future pandemics.