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Psychiatrists are likely to encounter patients with depression, anxiety, and paranoia related to communicable diseases and pandemics. Following is a summary of memorable epidemics/pandemics.
In an age of enhanced, sensationalized media coverage, and severe, life-threatening epidemics that plague humanity, psychiatrists are likely to encounter patients with depression, anxiety, and paranoia related to communicable diseases and pandemics. Following is a summary of memorable epidemics/pandemics.
Adding to the anxiety of parents is whether to vaccinate children against the historical risks of certain diseases.
Black plague
1346-1350
Estimated number of deaths: 25 million people, which at the time was one-third of Europe’s population
Smallpox
1633; 1790s; 1949 (most recent case in the US)
Estimated number of deaths: approximately 1.5 million
Malaria
Affects many tropical regions of the world including Africa, Asia, parts of the Americas
Estimated number of deaths: > 200 million people infected; approximately 660,000 deaths every year
Influenza
This virus has been responsible for 3 pandemics including the H1 Spanish flu, the H1N1 swine flu, and the H5N1 avian (bird) flu
For more on this topic, see: Fears, outbreaks, and pandemics: lessons learned on which this slideshow is based.
Dr Moukaddam is Associate Professor, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Ben Taub Adult Outpatient Services Director, Medical Director, STAR (Stabilization, Treatment, and Rehabilitation) Program for Psychosis, Houston, TX. She reports no conflicts of interest concerning the subject matter of this article.
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