COVID-19 medical staff experience insomnia and higher stress

A new study has recently revealed the extent of insomnia and associated symptoms of anxiety, depression, and traumatic response among medical practitioners in China during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.A new study by researchers in China has demonstrated the prevalence of insomnia, stress, and associated mental health issues for hospital staff, including frontline medical staff, during the COVID-19 outbreak. Medical staff working in the quarantine area must always maintain close contact with [people with the infection].”“Under these dangerous conditions, medical staff become mentally and physically exhausted, and therefore experience an increased risk of insomnia due to high stress.” – Dr. Bin ZhangThe authors note that this may create a vicious cycle, wherein high levels of stress cause insomnia, and extensive insomnia causes more stress.The study authors were particularly interested in the prevalence of insomnia among healthcare workers responding to the height of the outbreak in China, as well as the relationship between insomnia and other mental health issues.To investigate, they recruited medical staff from across China by accessing WeChat medical groups.