Psychiatric Sequelae of Pandemics

January 8, 2020

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

HIV/AIDS
1981-present
Estimated number of deaths: 529,113, with more than 940,000 cases reported

Tuberculosis
WHO estimates that 1.3 million people die every year from this disease

Smallpox
1633; 1790s; 1949 (most recent case in the US)
Estimated number of deaths: approximately 1.5 million

Cholera
Of the 3 million cases every year 100,000 to 120,000 result in death

SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)
2003
Estimated number of deaths: 774

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

Avian (bird) flu
2003
>700 cases reported

H1N1 (Swine flu)
2009
274,304 hospitalizations and 12,469 deaths

Ebola
1976; 2014-2015
Estimated number of deaths: 20,000

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.