Mental Health & COVID-19 in Med Grads – Phase 1: Junior Doctor Survey [COVID-19]

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A prospective study of the mental health of recent medical graduates and health staff during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. Phase One: Understanding cognitive mechanisms and pathways to the development and maintenance of PTSD and depression in junior doctors and health staff.

• IRAS ID

  286030

• Contact name

  Macpherson

• Sponsor organisation

  Queens University Belfast

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 4 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  Project Description: This project will identify the prevalence of mental health disorders (anxiety, major depression and PTSD) in a cohort of recent medical graduates (current Fyi, FI) in Northern Ireland, explore the underlying cognitive mechanisms that result in such disorders, and produce evidence that will inform a Phase Two study (RCT of Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TF-CBT) as an early intervention for PTSD in this cohort). Rationale: The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of clinical practice in the midst of a health epidemic on junior doctors’ mental health. It is unclear what rates of anxiety, PTSD and major depression we might expect during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. We do know that different types of traumatic events are associated with different PTSD rates. There are so many features of this situation that are new to us that it is very difficult to accurately predict rates of mental health in general, and PTSD specifically.\n\nIn most cases of acute PTSD, individuals will recover from initial short term distress. However, a substantial minority - between 30% and 40% of those who develop acute PTSD - are at risk of persistent chronic mental ill health, which is why we need to ensure access to evidence based early interventions, such as trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT) and ensure that such interventions are specifically tailored to the needs of this group.\n\nIn this study, we will screen for mental ill health (specifically anxiety, PTSD and depression) and monitor changes in mental health over time. We will also explore what are known as mediation or moderation effects of specific cognitive or behavioural strategies that people commonly employ when dealing with stress or traumatic experiences. It is important that we improve our understanding of the mechanisms that produce PTSD and major depression if we are to become better at both preventing and treating mental health conditions. \n\nThe results of this study will help us to establish the evidence for a second study, a clinical trial, of a tailored version of TF-CBT for this population.\nMethods: The study will involve participants completing online questionnaires. At baseline, the following will be collected: demographic information; previous diagnoses of a mental health disorder and/or previous mental health treatment; previous exposure to critical incidents (death, other trauma). Baseline symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms and resilience will be assessed and re-assessed at each follow-up point. Exposure to critical incidents will be recorded at each follow-up, as will assessments of cognitive processing mechanisms and behavioural coping strategies. \n \nBenefits and Expected Outcomes: A key outcome of the project will be to provide reliable estimates of the prevalence of mental health disorders in this population and associated protective factors, both increasingly important issues in terms of mental health policy, service provision and the development of trauma informed practice. \n\nThe study will: 1) Identify the prevalence of PTSD, anxiety and major depressive disorder (MDD) in this population; 2) identify rates of exposure to psychologically traumatic experiences, and how these relate to mental health; 3) identify use of alcohol and drugs, and how this relates to mental health; 4) identify the personal, relational and community based resilience resources participants have access to, and how these potentially mitigate against the development of mental health disorders; 5) monitor changes in mental health over time; 6) produce a screening tool for mental ill health (PTSD, anxiety and depression), and; 7) establish the mediation or moderation effects of specific cognitive or behavioural strategies that will allow us to develop cognitive techniques that will then be tested in a RCT (in Phase Two). The delivery of a high quality study will be of immense benefit to a range of stakeholders, helping inform decision-making, funding allocation and service development over the next ten years. Specific outputs will include: a full technical report; briefing papers, presentations to key partners, policy makers, service providers and practitioners and at key conferences, seminars and other fora.

• REC name

  Wales REC 5

• REC reference

  20/WA/0209

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Jul 2020

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion