U. Bhaumik, India
Independent Practice General PsychiatryPresenter of 2 Presentations
EPP0428 - Cyberchondria: an emerging entity in COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Cyberchondria is a pathological behaviour linked to excessive online searching of health information.It is frequently associated with health anxiety. It may be regarded as an compulsive behaviour secondary to obsessions about a real or an imagined illness. The coronavirus pandemic of 2019 has brought about a fear of getting infected. In the absence of a definitive cure, the focus largely lies on stringent preventive measures and early diagnosis. Known to present with diverse symptoms, fear of coronaviral infection makes affected individuals search for symptoms on internet for reassurance. Added misinformation further increases stress,anxiety and confusion.
Objectives
The authors attempt to describe cyberchondria and highlight its increased prevalence during the coronavirus pandemic.
Methods
5 cases from different backgrounds were seen in the outpatient clinic during the months of April-July 2020.Consent was obtained from subjects before the study.They were clinically diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and exhibited cyberchondria in the background of the pandemic.
Results
All of the described 5 cases had prominent fear of contracting or having contracted coronavirus disease-19.All of them were found to have significant scores rang on Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Severity Scale(ranging from 25-35) and improved after a trial of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Conclusions
The emergence of cyberchondria during the coronavirus -19 pandemic warrants further introspection.Changes in policy-making to prevent misinformation and present health information in a simple way to prevent confusion in the lay public is a necessity to tackle this problem in the near future.
O206 - Post-traumatic stress,anxiety and depression after intensive care unit stay: findings from a general hospital
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) following intensive care is a relatively new entity. It is triggered due to traumatic experiences in a setting of threat to life due to illness. Prolonged stay in intensive care predisposes to delusional memories related to the stay experience and may increase likelihood of post-traumatic stress.It may also present as anxiety or depression.
Objectives
This study explored the prevalence of post-traumatic symptoms in intensive care, find its correlates and its impact on health-related quality of life(HRQoL).
Methods
225 adult patients admitted for at least 1 day in the intensive care unit(ICU) of a general hospital in Bangalore,India were recruited and assessed at 1 week,1 month and 3 months after ICU discharge. Subjects were assessed for ICU related memories,PTSD,anxiety and depression scores and quality of life at and post discharge.
Results
59.6% of the study population had significant post-traumatic stress, including anxiety in 62.35%, depression in 10.58% and mixed anxiety-depression in 27.06%. Delusional memories were found in 31.6%. Presence of delusional memories was found to have significant correlation with post-traumatic stress and had a negative impact on HRQoL.
Conclusions
This study was the first of its kind from Asia. More systematic studies on PTSD following ICU stay and its correlates are required as available evidence lacks homogeneity. Suitable preventive measures should be taken to reduce prevalence of post-traumatic stress in intensive care due to its lasting impact on HRQoL.