Problematic use of the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic: Good practices and mental health recommendations

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Abstract

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accelerated spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus came jurisdictional limitations on mobility of citizens and distinct alterations in their daily routines. Confined to their homes, many people increased their overall internet use, with problematic use of the internet (PUI) becoming a potential reason for increased mental health concerns. Our narrative review summarizes information on the extent of PUI during the pandemic, by focusing on three types: online gaming, gambling and pornography viewing. We conclude by providing guidance for mental health professionals and those affected by PUI (with an outline of immediate research priorities and best therapeutic approaches), as well as for the general public (with an overview of safe and preventative practices).

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The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence

Samantha K. Brooks, Rebecca K Webster, Louise E. Smith … (2022)

Summary The December, 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak has seen many countries ask people who have potentially come into contact with the infection to isolate themselves at home or in a dedicated quarantine facility. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on the best available evidence. We did a Review of the psychological impact of quarantine using three electronic databases. Of 3166 papers found, 24 are included in this Review. Most reviewed studies reported negative psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger. Stressors included longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, and stigma. Some researchers have suggested long-lasting effects. In situations where quarantine is deemed necessary, officials should quarantine individuals for no longer than required, provide clear rationale for quarantine and information about protocols, and ensure sufficient supplies are provided. Appeals to altruism by reminding the public about the benefits of quarantine to wider society can be favourable.

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Factors Associated With Mental Health Outcomes Among Health Care Workers Exposed to Coronavirus Disease 2019

Jianbo Lai, Simeng Ma, Ying Wang … (2020)

Key Points Question What factors are associated with mental health outcomes among health care workers in China who are treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 1257 health care workers in 34 hospitals equipped with fever clinics or wards for patients with COVID-19 in multiple regions of China, a considerable proportion of health care workers reported experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress, especially women, nurses, those in Wuhan, and front-line health care workers directly engaged in diagnosing, treating, or providing nursing care to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Meaning These findings suggest that, among Chinese health care workers exposed to COVID-19, women, nurses, those in Wuhan, and front-line health care workers have a high risk of developing unfavorable mental health outcomes and may need psychological support or interventions.

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Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science

Emily A. Holmes, Rory C O'Connor, V. Perry … (2020)

Summary The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a profound effect on all aspects of society, including mental health and physical health. We explore the psychological, social, and neuroscientific effects of COVID-19 and set out the immediate priorities and longer-term strategies for mental health science research. These priorities were informed by surveys of the public and an expert panel convened by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the mental health research charity, MQ: Transforming Mental Health, in the first weeks of the pandemic in the UK in March, 2020. We urge UK research funding agencies to work with researchers, people with lived experience, and others to establish a high level coordination group to ensure that these research priorities are addressed, and to allow new ones to be identified over time. The need to maintain high-quality research standards is imperative. International collaboration and a global perspective will be beneficial. An immediate priority is collecting high-quality data on the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the whole population and vulnerable groups, and on brain function, cognition, and mental health of patients with COVID-19. There is an urgent need for research to address how mental health consequences for vulnerable groups can be mitigated under pandemic conditions, and on the impact of repeated media consumption and health messaging around COVID-19. Discovery, evaluation, and refinement of mechanistically driven interventions to address the psychological, social, and neuroscientific aspects of the pandemic are required. Rising to this challenge will require integration across disciplines and sectors, and should be done together with people with lived experience. New funding will be required to meet these priorities, and it can be efficiently leveraged by the UK's world-leading infrastructure. This Position Paper provides a strategy that may be both adapted for, and integrated with, research efforts in other countries.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Compr Psychiatry

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Compr Psychiatry

Title: Comprehensive Psychiatry

Publisher: The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.

ISSN (Print): 0010-440X

ISSN (Electronic): 1532-8384

Publication date PMC-release: 20 October 2021

Publication date (Print): January 2022

Publication date (Electronic): 20 October 2021

Volume: 112

Page: 152279

Affiliations

[a ]Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Skopje, Macedonia

[b ]Department of Psychiatry and Child Study Centre, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

[c ]Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

[d ]Connecticut Mental Health Centre, New Haven, CT, USA

[e ]Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA

[f ]Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, UK

[g ]Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK

[h ]Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

[i ]Centre for Health Services and Clinical Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK

[j ]Centre for Psychology, University of Porto, Portugal

[k ]Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal

[l ]Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

[m ]Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

[n ]Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

[o ]Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, Clinical Sciences, University “Gabriele d’Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy

[p ]Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania

[q ]Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv, Israel

[r ]Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Cibersam, Barcelona, Spain

[s ]Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

[t ]Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

[u ]Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK

[v ]University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK

[w ]Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK

[x ]University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK

[y ]Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Author notes

[* ]Corresponding author at: Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Krste Misirkov 2, Skopje, Macedonia.

[** ]Corresponding author at: Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, GX111AA Gibraltar, Europa Point Campus, Europa Point, Gibraltar.

[1]

The last two authors contributed equally to the manuscript.

Article

Publisher Item ID: S0010-440X(21)00057-2 Publisher ID: 152279

DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152279

PMC ID: 8529894

PubMed ID: 34700188

SO-VID: cf9b7588-efb3-4557-8d9a-8afa9f36fff3

License:

Since January 2020 Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The COVID-19 resource centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect, the company's public news and information website. Elsevier hereby grants permission to make all its COVID-19-related research that is available on the COVID-19 resource centre - including this research content - immediately available in PubMed Central and other publicly funded repositories, such as the WHO COVID database with rights for unrestricted research re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for free by Elsevier for as long as the COVID-19 resource centre remains active.

Problematic use of the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic: Good practices and mental health recommendations

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Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 91

The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence

Factors Associated With Mental Health Outcomes Among Health Care Workers Exposed to Coronavirus Disease 2019

Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science

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