Psychological rehabilitation for isolated patients with COVID-19 infection: A randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To improve the mental health of isolated patients with COVID-19 by face-to-face psychological rehabilitation program. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. SETTING: Single community-based hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 109 patients (52 in experimental group, 57 in control group) with COVID-19 were recruited from May 27 to September 17, 2021. INTERVENTIONS: A psychological rehabilitation program that consists of education, craft, and physical activity. The activity program was provided by a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team of doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. The purpose of the education was to provide accurate information about COVID-19, and craft and physical activity were for improving physical health, occupational balance, participation in activities, and reducing boredom. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was degree of anxiety assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Secondary outcomes were severity of depression, and quality of sleep assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Visual Analysis Scale (VAS), and the Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K). RESULTS: Isolated patients complained of anxiety, depression, and insomnia the most in the early stages of hospitalization and isolation. In addition, the psychological rehabilitation program significantly improved mental health scale, including scores of SAS (F = 12.46, p = .001), SDS (F = 6.76, p = .01), and ISI-K (F = 4.41, p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: The psychological rehabilitation program is effective for improving anxiety, depression, and quality of sleep for isolated patients with COVID-19.