Pandemic sets off future wave of worsening mental health issues
Worry, fear of COVID-19 amplifies risk of substance abuse

Date:
September 28, 2020
Source:
University of Houston
Summary:
Long after a COVID-19 vaccination is developed and years after the
coronavirus death toll is tallied, the impact on mental health will
linger, continuing to inflict damage if not addressed, according
to new research.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Long after a COVID-19 vaccination is developed and years after the
coronavirus death toll is tallied, the impact on mental health will
linger, continuing to inflict damage if not addressed, according to
new research. Michael Zvolensky, University of Houston Hugh Roy and
Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor of Psychology
and director of the Anxiety and Health Research Laboratory/Substance Use Treatment Clinic, has published two papers discussing the psychological, addictive and health behavior issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic
from a behavioral science perspective.


==========================================================================
"The impact of COVID-19 on psychological symptoms and disorders, addiction
and health behavior is substantial and ongoing and will negatively
impact people's mental health and put them at greater risk for chronic
illness and drug addiction," reports Zvolensky in Behaviour Research and Therapy. "It will not equally impact all of society. Those at greater
risk are those that have mental health vulnerabilities or disorders."
For instance, those who 'catastrophize' the pandemic amplify the actual
stress impact, increasing their symptoms and creating the possibility
for substance abuse.

"That sets in motion a future wave of mental health, addiction and
worsening health problems in our society. It's not going to go away,
even with a vaccination, because the damage is already done. That's
why we're going to see people with greater health problems struggling
for generations," said Zvolensky Zvolensky offers a model of how the
COVID-19 stress burden may be associated with addictive problems and
health behaviors, and how these may be associated with later chronic
illness and psychological problems.

In Psychiatry Research, Zvolensky presents findings linking worry and
fear about the pandemic to drug use and abuse.

Zvolensky evaluated a group of 160 participants to find if
COVID-19-related worry and fear differed between substance abstainers, pre-COVID-19 users and those who initiated drug use for the first time
during the pandemic.

"Results generally suggest the persons using substance experience
the highest levels of COVID-19-related worry and fear," said
Zvolensky. "Additionally, worry about COVID-19 is related to coping
motives for substance use." These results provide preliminary evidence
that COVID-19-related worry and fear may be putative risk factors for
substance use initiation in the face of COVID- 19, and these results may provide critical clinical information for helping individuals cope with
this pandemic," he said.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Houston. Original
written by Laurie Fickman. Note: Content may be edited for style and
length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Andrew H. Rogers, Justin M. Shepherd, Lorra Garey, Michael
J. Zvolensky.

Psychological factors associated with substance use initiation
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatry Research, 2020; 293:
113407 DOI: 10.1016/ j.psychres.2020.113407 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928163752.htm

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