Circadian Rhythems during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Grinnell College

- Domestic violence and child abuse: Individuals at risk for abuse may have limited opportunities to report or seek help when shelter-in-place requirements demand prolonged cohabitation at home and limit travel outside of the home, more time in the home puts certain people at risk of more abuse
- Increase in self-harm and suicidal ideation
- Need to bolster our mental health system in preparation for the inevitable challenges precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Health systems, both public and private sector, will need to develop mechanisms for refill and delivery of essential medicines, including psychiatric medicines.  
- Online substitutes for daily routines: can be extremely helpful, but not all children have access to technologies that enable remote connectivity.

Mental Health Consequences

Like physical immobilization, isolation triggers stress and a spike in cortisol and steroid levels in the body. Under extreme stress, COVID-19 patients who are already experiencing organ damage due to a cytokine storm will experience heightened cytokine levels and further medical complications. If these internal conditions persist, they can cause numerous long-term neuropsychiatric issues.

Effects of Physical Isolation on Stress Hormones, Cytokine Storm, and Long-Term Neuropsychiatric Issues

Higher psychological and physical abuse during confinement due to COVID-19 isolation have resulted in increased self-harm and suicidal ideation in people in the UK. This study surveyed people in the UK (n=44775) and observed higher thoughts of suicide and self-harm in women, black, asian and minority ethnic groups, people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantages. 9% of participants in this study reported experiencing physical or psychological abuse, and 18% reported experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Abuse, self-harm and suicidal ideation in
the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic

Intro
 The CDC looked at the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine on mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideations. 
Method:
 A representative panel survey was conducted among adults ages 18 years and older across the United States. The survey asked questions regarding their mental health and substance use through June 24th to 30, 2020. The survey assessed symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders. Participants were also asked to report whether they had started or increased substance use to cope with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were also asked if participants and seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days. 
Analysis: 
Stratified by race, gender, employment status, essential worker status, adult-care giver status, rural-urban residence, whether respondents knew someone who had s positive COVID-19 test, or someone who had died from COVID-19, whether respondents were diagnosed and receiving treatment for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the time of the survey.  
Results 
The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety disorder was approximately three times those reported in the second quarter of 2019 (25.5% versus 8.1%), and the prevalence of depressive disorder was approximately four times that reported in the second quarter of 2019 (24.3% versus 6.5%) (2). 
40.9% of respondents reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety or depression disorders (30.9%), symptoms of PTSD (26.3%), and have started or increased substance use to cope with stress related to COVID-19 (13.3%). 
10.7% of respondents reported having seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days, which was 25.5% higher in participants ages 18-24 and minorities. 
About 21.7% of respondents who were classified as essential workers had considered suicide in the past 30 days.
Discussion
There has been an increase in the number of reported mental health conditions substance use, and suicidal ideations in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020 compared to June 2019. 


Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020

- Examining children quarantined in China, March 2020
- Being around caregivers could ease stress of the situation 
- Children separated from caregivers due to disease (children are sick in hospital, parents are sick, death of relative, etc.) are more susceptible to mental health problems 
- Need relationships for healthy psychological development 
- Separation from normal caregivers, social relationships=increased risk for: acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and grief
- "30% of the children who were isolated or quarantined met the clinical criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder"
- Separation from caregiver first few years after birth might affect attachment process

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