Is Coronaphobia Real?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

The evidence strongly supports the reality of coronaphobia, particularly among healthcare professionals. The high prevalence of this condition and its association with significant psychological distress call for urgent attention and intervention. Addressing coronaphobia is crucial not only for the well-being of healthcare workers but also for maintaining the overall efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare systems during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges, not only in terms of physical health but also in mental well-being. Among the various psychological impacts, a phenomenon termed “coronaphobia” has emerged, particularly affecting healthcare professionals. This article explores the validity and implications of coronaphobia, drawing on recent research findings.

Understanding Coronaphobia

Coronaphobia refers to an excessive fear of contracting the coronavirus, leading to significant anxiety and distress. This fear can manifest in various ways, including heightened anxiety, depression, and avoidance behaviors. The term has gained traction as researchers and mental health professionals seek to understand the psychological toll of the pandemic.

Evidence from Healthcare Professionals

A study conducted among healthcare professionals in Mexico provides substantial evidence supporting the existence of coronaphobia. Using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale—Healthcare version (CAS-HC), researchers assessed 231 adult healthcare professionals. The study found that dysfunctional coronavirus anxiety symptoms formed a reliable, single-factor structure of coronaphobia. The CAS-HC demonstrated strong classification features, although a less stringent cut-score was recommended for this population. Importantly, the study revealed positive correlations between CAS-HC scores and measures of depression and generalized anxiety. High CAS-HC scores were particularly prevalent among those working in high-stress environments such as emergency rooms, triage, and intensive care units. Over one-third of the participants scored in the clinical range, underscoring the critical need to address this form of distress in healthcare workers1.

Coronaphobia Among Nurses

Nurses, who are on the front lines of patient care, appear to be particularly vulnerable to coronaphobia. A narrative review of the literature examined the prevalence and factors associated with coronaphobia among nurses. The review included 22 articles and identified several key factors related to coronaphobia, including job burnout, department type, psychological well-being, and organizational and professional relocation. The prevalence of coronaphobia was found to be high among healthcare professionals, especially nurses. Factors such as the level of burnout, the specific ward they work in, and their overall psychological well-being were significantly related to the development of coronaphobia. This review highlights the need for targeted interventions to support nurses’ mental health during the pandemic2.

Is Coronaphobia real?

Anthony Jorm has answered Likely

An expert from University of Melbourne in Psychology, Psychiatry

Anxiety is a normal and useful emotion. It functions to protect us from danger and prepares us for action. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety will help to prevent infection. However, sometimes it is possible to have too much of a good thing. If anxiety becomes extreme, so that it disrupts a person’s ability to work, study or have social relationships, then it is getting to the point where it may be labelled a ‘phobia’ and some intervention to reduce the level of anxiety might be warranted. So, yes, it is possible to have a phobic level of anxiety to any danger, include coronavirus, where what is usually a useful emotion becomes a hindrance to everyday functioning.

Is Coronaphobia real?

Sherman Lee has answered Likely

An expert from Christopher Newport University in Psychology

Yes, if we define this condition as the fear and anxiety of the coronavirus. Like other phobias, individuals with coronaphobia typically experience unpleasant physiological symptoms, such as dizziness and tonic immobility (i.e., freezing), when exposed to or when thinking about coronavirus-related information (Lee, 2020). And like other phobias, coronaphobia is associated with emotional distress, negative behaviors (e.g., drug/alcohol coping), and functional impairments (Lee, 2020).

Coronaphobia is such a potent force during the COVID-19 pandemic that it has been shown to predict depression, generalized anxiety, and death anxiety, above sociodemographics, COVID-19 factors, neuroticism, health anxiety, and reassurance-seeking behaviors (Lee, Jobe, Mathis, & Gibbons, 2020). However, the extent to which coronaphobia can technically qualify as a specific phobia according to the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5; 2013) perspective remains to be seen. This is because the novel coronavirus is relatively new to most people (diagnostic criteria E states that a phobia lasts for 6 months or more) and we do not yet know the long-term effects this coronavirus has on human health (diagnostic criteria D states that a phobia is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the fear).

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Lee, S. A. (2020). Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: A brief mental health screener for COVID-19 related anxiety. Death Studies, 44(7), 393-401. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2020.1748481

Lee, S. A., Jobe, M. C., Mathis, A. A., & Gibbons, J. A. (2020). Incremental validity of coronaphobia: Coronavirus anxiety explains depression, generalized anxiety, and death anxiety. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102268