Psychological Interventions for Mental Health Treatment During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Authors

Faye A. Branum, Virginia University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Psychiatry

Advisor

Dr. Larry Herman

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This clinical review article aims to examine the types of psychological interventions that are best suited to help individuals in processing traumatic events to decrease the overall mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: In June of 2021, a search was conducted for relevant articles evaluating psychological interventions in the context of collective trauma. The terms “2019 novel coronavirus”, “COVID-19”, “pandemic”, and “epidemic”, were cross-referenced with the terms “collective trauma”, “mental health”, “psychological interventions”, “psychological therapies”, “cognitive behavioral therapy”, and “acceptance and commitment therapy”. This review used the publication date, type of article, and article relevance to generate research articles.

Results: Research shows that a variety of psychological interventions may be used with effectiveness to address mental health symptoms; however, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) showed the highest efficacy for treating posttraumatic stress (PTS) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which are characteristically seen in patients experiencing collective trauma.

Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is best suited for addressing PTS and PTSD in the context of COVID-19 and is one type of psychological intervention effectively implemented face-to-face or via telehealth by psychiatric and non-psychiatric clinicians with proper training.

Recommended Citation

Branum FA. Psychological Interventions for Mental Health Treatment During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2021; 4(1).