PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS: WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR?

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affects individual's life in all aspect. As one of the efforts to prevent the transmission of the virus, a number of health protocols have been carried out, including social restrictions in almost all countries, including Indonesia. A pandemic situation elicits negative emotional responses, such as fear and stress, which are actually normal emotional responses to abnormal situations. However, pandemic situations can also cause more serious mental health problems or worsen existing mental disorders. After almost two years running, not many studies have reported the psychological impacts of the pandemic situation on individuals who have mental health problems. This study aims to investigate psychological impacts of pandemic COVID-19 on individual with mental health problems. Three clients that had been diagnosed using the Diagnostic Statistical Manual V before pandemic were observed.  Data were collected by interviewing clients and significant other. The results show that the COVID-19 pandemic situation increases the severity or triggers symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and internet-related addiction. Clients recover after receiving online psychological intervention. Family involvement is recommended to support the effectiveness of psychological interventions. Understanding the results of this study is important for clinical psychologists to be able to design and provide appropriate psychological intervention during the pandemic.