Social Anxiety Disorder and the Coronavirus-19 Pandemic
Giulia Di Franco, Nicola Marsigli
During the Coronavirus-19 pandemic, there was an increase in psychological distress: depressive symptoms (up to 48.3%), psychological distress (38%), post-traumatic stress disorder (53.8%), sleep disorders (67%), and anxiety symptoms (50.9%). On the contrary, social anxiety disorder (SAD) seems to have shown peculiar characteristics in response to quarantine. In fact, those who suffer from SAD appear to have perceived no symptomatic variation compared to the period preceding the pandemic or even reported an improvement in their symptoms. Some studies, cited in this paper, highlight how, probably because of social distancing and quarantine policies, people with pre-pandemic social anxiety disorder found themselves in a more favourable condition due to the fact that daily routines and social contacts were reduced, allowing them to camouflage the need for avoidance and perceive a consequent easing of anxiety symptoms because of decreased social interactions. The aim of this work is to highlight concern for a worsening of symptoms at the end of the pandemic when these people will have to return to facing their daily life thus intensifying social relationships. Consequently, it is important to draw attention to both old and new patients.
Keywords
Covid-19, Pandemic, SAD, Mental Health.
