Health Anxiety, Health Perception, and Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Among Psychiatric Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sevda Korkmaz, MD; Metin Ateşçelik, MD; Hale Nur Balcı, MD; Sema Baykara, MD; Şeyda Canpolat, BS; Hasan Korkmaz, MD; Murad Atmaca, MD

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2022;24(2):21m03197

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the health anxiety and healthy lifestyle behavior experienced by psychiatric patients due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with that of a control group.

Methods: The study included 120 outpatients (aged 18–65 years) diagnosed with a psychiatric illness (DSM-5 criteria) who presented to a psychiatry outpatient clinic between June and August 2020. The control group included 120 healthy individuals with a similar age and sex distribution as the patient group. Data were collected with a questionnaire developed by the authors to determine the participants’ adherence to COVID-19 hygiene rules and associated behavioral norms. The Health Anxiety Scale–Short Form, Health Perception Scale, and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile were completed by all participants.

Results: The mean Health Anxiety Scale score was significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (P < .01). Health anxiety was high in 8% of the patients and 32% of the controls. Also, the mean Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile score was statistically significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (P < .01). There was no significant difference between the groups based on health perception scores and adherence to hygiene rules.

Conclusions: As expected, the healthy lifestyle behavior of individuals without psychiatric illness was higher compared to those with mental disorders. However, health anxiety about COVID-19 was higher among healthy individuals compared to those with a psychiatric disorder. Thus, it could be suggested that individuals without a psychiatric illness prior to the pandemic could need psychiatric assistance after the pandemic.

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