European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN A SAMPLE OF UKRAINIAN ADULTS. THE REVIEW OF LONGITUDINAL STUDY FROM “LOCKDOWN STRESS TO POST-COVID PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS"

Orlova Nataliia*, Shkliar Illia and Shkliar Mykhailo

ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has had a profound impact not only on physical health but also on psychological well-being. Although much is known about acute stress responses during lockdown, less is understood about the long-term mental health effects, particularly among individuals without prior psychiatric diagnoses. Objective: Evaluation of psychosocial health and early psychiatric symptoms in Ukrainian sample during two distinct phases of the COVID-19 pandemic: the initial quarantine period (2020) and the post-quarantine recovery phase (2021–2023). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kyiv and Kyiv region. During quarantine, 68 participants (mean age 48.4) completed self-report assessments including The Snight-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHPS) and General Well-Being Scale (GWB). Post-quarantine clinical observations were made of individuals presenting new-onset psychiatric symptoms following COVID-19 infection, with additional assessments (BDI, HADS, SHPS, GWB, Mini-Cog, PSQI) in selected cases. Results: During quarantine, 73.5% of respondents reported psychological tension, 66.1% experienced anxiety/unrest, and 63% expressed fear for their health. Anhedonia (SHPS ≤ 39) was identified in 30.88% of participants. Among these, 90% reported persistent nervousness and anxiety, 80.9% felt depression and emotional emptiness, and 95.2% experienced overall distress. In the post-quarantine phase, several individuals—previously mentally healthy—developed psychiatric symptoms for the first time, including irritability, cognitive impairments, and suicidal ideations, and mild depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak led to significant psychological distress during the quarantine and contributed to the appearance of post-COVID psychiatric symptoms in the recovery phase. Findings highlight the need for mental health screening in both infected and non-infected individuals, as well as long-term monitoring and intervention strategies to address post-COVID neuropsychiatric sequelae.

Keywords: Post-COVID syndrome, mental health, psychological distress, anhedonia, suicidal ideation, Ukraine.