Impact of the pandemic on mental health and indicators of executive dysfunction in healthcare professionals

Abstract

Pandemics can have social, economic, political and mental health impacts. During the Pandemic, there has been an increase in the prevalence of mental disorders in the general population and especially among healthcare professionals. The objective was to evaluate the mental health of health professionals who worked on the front line in the Intensive Care Unit - COVID-19 ICU and General ICU. The research was descriptive, with a quantitative and cross-sectional approach, with a convenience sample (non-probability). Participants presented a predominance of minimal symptoms, followed by mild signs of anxiety and depression in both groups and in the resistance phase. The prevalence of female gender and correlation with anxiety symptoms were identified. A statistically significant correlation was found between dysexecutive signs and those indicative of anxiety and depression, suggesting that the worsening of these disorders can affect the functioning of cognition.