Development of a psychological first-aid model in inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

摘要

Background Facing the social panic and substantial shortage of medical resources during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)outbreak,providing psychological first-aid to inpatients is essential for their rehabilitation and the orderly operating of medical systems.However,the closed-ward environment and extreme shortage of onsite mental health workers have limited the use of traditional face-to-face diagnosis and psychological interventions.Aim To develop a mental health intervention model for inpatients that can be applied during a widespread epidemic,such as COVID-19.Methods In a medical team stationed in Leishenshan Hospital,Wuhan,China,we integrated onsite and online psychological support resources to implement a graded psychological intervention system.The onsite psychiatrist established trust with the patients and classified them into categories according to their symptom severity.While face-to-face evaluation and intervention are critical for effective online support,the online team effectively extended the scope of the'first-aid'to all patients.Conclusion This integrated onsite and online approach was effective and eficient in providing psychological interventions for inpatients during the crisis.Our model provides a realistic scheme for healthcare systems in or after the COVID-19 epidemic and also could be adopted in areas of the world with insufficient mental healthcare resources.