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Mental Health Issues as a Consequence of the Pandemic: Group Psycho-Educational Intervention to Support Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Infection

Author

Listed:
  • Denise Vagnini

    (Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Nicolò Lamperti

    (Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy)

  • Sara Molgora

    (Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Francesca Barile

    (Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy)

  • Federica Facchin

    (Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Umberto Mazza

    (Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy)

  • Emanuela Saita

    (Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Common psycho-physical symptoms have emerged in patients who were previously recovered for COVID-19 infection, including traumatic experience and enduring emotional disturbances. A group psycho-educational intervention of seven weekly sessions and a follow-up after three months was proposed to all Italian-speaking patients formally discharged from a public hospital in northern Italy and physically recovered from infection. Eighteen patients were recruited and divided into four age-homogenous groups, each led by two facilitators (psychologists and psychotherapists). The group sessions followed a structured format with thematic modules, including main topics, tasks, and homework assignments. Data were collected through recordings and verbatim transcripts. The objectives of the study were twofold: (1) to analyze the emerging themes and gain insight into the significant aspects of the participants’ lived experience of COVID-19, and (2) to examine changes in how participants approached these themes throughout the intervention process. Semantic-pragmatic text analyses, specifically thematic analysis of elementary context and correspondence analysis, were conducted using T-LAB software. Linguistic analysis revealed a congruence between the intervention’s objectives and the participants’ experiences. The study highlighted an evolution in the narratives, as participants transitioned from a passive and concrete perspective on the disease to a more comprehensive cognitive and emotional elaboration of their personal illness stories. These findings hold potential relevance for healthcare services and professionals working in this field.

Suggested Citation

  • Denise Vagnini & Nicolò Lamperti & Sara Molgora & Francesca Barile & Federica Facchin & Umberto Mazza & Emanuela Saita, 2023. "Mental Health Issues as a Consequence of the Pandemic: Group Psycho-Educational Intervention to Support Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Infection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:12:p:6105-:d:1168995
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julio Torales & Marcelo O’Higgins & João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia & Antonio Ventriglio, 2020. "The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 317-320, June.
    2. Pierluigi Diotaiuti & Giuseppe Valente & Stefania Mancone & Stefano Corrado & Fernando Bellizzi & Lavinia Falese & Elisa Langiano & Guilherme Torres Vilarino & Alexandro Andrade, 2023. "Effects of Cognitive Appraisals on Perceived Self-Efficacy and Distress during the COVID-19 Lockdown: An Empirical Analysis Based on Structural Equation Modeling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Cristina Mazza & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Marco Colasanti & Stefano Ferracuti & Christian Napoli & Paolo Roma, 2020. "A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Denise Vagnini & Massimo Maria Grassi & Emanuela Saita, 2023. "Evaluating Somatic Experiencing ® to Heal Cancer Trauma: First Evidence with Breast Cancer Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-19, July.

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