This Neuropsychiatrist Warns About "Pandemic Squared" + What To Do About It
We are living in unprecedented times. As the wave of COVID-19 continues, we're also coping with a tsunami of mental health issues. It's all adding up to a global crisis I call "Pandemic Squared."
What is Pandemic Squared?
What does that term mean exactly? As a clinical neuroscientist psychiatrist, I've created the phrase Pandemic Squared to refer to the fact that COVID-19 is now being multiplied by a subsequent pandemic of psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction.
A paper that appeared in an April issue of JAMA Internal Medicine1 warned of a looming psychiatric epidemic in the wake of the pandemic. According to the authors, "These consequences are of sufficient importance that immediate efforts focused on prevention and direct intervention are needed to address the impact of the outbreak on individual and population-level mental health."
Based on recent reports, their prediction is already materializing. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll reported that 56% of Americans say that worry or stress related to the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health. During the lockdown, there has been a 34% increase in prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications and a 19% increase in prescriptions for antidepressants. A 2020 study out of China involving over 700 patients with COVID-19 found that a staggering 96% showed symptoms associated with PTSD2. And sadly, there has been a marked uptick in calls to suicide hotlines.
At Amen Clinics, the patients we're currently seeing for anxiety, depression, bipolar disease, PTSD, and other issues are complaining of more severe symptoms than usual. And they're expressing a greater urgency to be seen quickly.
What can you do to avoid Pandemic Squared?
Of course, there is no quick-fix solution for mental health issues. However, in addition to shoring up your immune system to prevent COVID-19, I urge you to prioritize strengthening your mental well-being now, too.
Mental practices are personal and will look different for everyone. But one thing I advise, especially during this time, is focusing on positive thoughts to trigger a release of feel-good neurochemicals. Try bookending your day with positivity: Start your morning by saying it's going to be a great day, then at night, ask yourself what went well.
You can also prioritize practices that have a positive impact on brain health, like hydration, sleep, exercise, and nutritious eating.
I further advise looking into biological risk factors that may contribute to mental illness, such as inflammation, and work with your medical practitioner to mitigate the problem.
It's important to note, if you're experiencing prolonged feelings of depression or other symptoms of mental illness, please consider reaching out to a medical professional for help. If you or someone you love is experiencing suicidal depression, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Daniel Amen, MD, is a clinical neuroscientist psychiatrist, physician, professor and 10-time New York Times bestselling author. He is a double board-certified child and adult psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics, Inc., which has eight clinics across the country with one of the highest published success rates for treating complex psychiatric issues with the world’s largest database of functional brain scans relating to behavior, with more than 160,000 scans on patients from 121 countries. Amen is the lead researcher for the largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study for professional football players that demonstrates high levels of brain damage in players with solutions for significant recovery as a result of his extensive work. His research on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury was recognized by Discover magazine’s Year in Science issue as one of the “100 Top Stories of 2015.” Amen has authored and co-authored more than 70 professional articles, seven scientific book chapters and 40-plus books, including the No. 1 New York Times bestsellers, “The Daniel Plan” and “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.” His most recent book, “Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades,” includes editorial contributions from his teenage daughter, Chloe Amen, and niece, Alizé Castellanos.
2 Sources
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2764404
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/posttraumatic-stress-symptoms-and-attitude-toward-crisis-mental-health-services-among-clinically-stable-patients-with-covid19-in-china/32D66826C54EB1A96C008089C0DE500E