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Biopsychopharmacosocial approach to assess impact of social distancing and isolation on mental health in older adults

02 May 2020
Volume 25 · Issue 5

Abstract

It is impossible to predict or comprehend the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The UK Government's advice for vulnerable people, including older adults, to move towards self-isolation and social distancing is likely to reduce rates of transmission, the risk of severe illness and the impact on the acute health services. Although justified and necessary, this process of isolation is likely to have a negative impact on the mental health of these vulnerable groups, especially older people. It will become increasingly important for community health professionals to assess subtle changes in older persons' mental health, as the duration of this period of isolation remains unclear. The biopsychopharmacosocial model provides one method of assessing mental health and planning health and social care needs. This article hopes to guide community health professionals through the specifics of this assessment model in relation to the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

These are unprecedented times, where each day, health professionals are navigating uncharted waters (Fauci et al, 2020). In recent months, there has been a lock-down in the global community. As COVID-19 spreads across the world, national boarders have closed, and local neighbourhoods have been forced to pull together to interpret and translate guidance on how to limit the spread of the disease at both a macro and micro level. In this situation, experts are yet to understand the extent of the physical, psychological and socioeconomic impact of the pandemic, but, often, the potential effect of COVID-19 on an individual's mental health is not adequately considered. Despite the exponential rise in workload, for nurses and health professionals, it remains business as usual. As the UK has moved towards a dictate of mandatory isolation to minimise the spread of COVID-19, there is a population that has substantial risk of mental health sequelae associated with the social isolation process (Brooks et al, 2020).

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