“THE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC“

 

by Prof. Dr. Michael Wang,
Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Leicester;
Chair, Association of Clinical Psychologists, UK

 

 

 

Abstract

Every country and every people have been profoundly affected by the pandemic as governments struggle to contain the infection, and health and social care service are put under enormous pressure. Much of the population of the world are in, or have experienced “lock-down” resulting for many in social isolation and interruption of normal community activity and support. Many of us have friends and relatives who have the infection and sadly, some of us will have been unexpectedly bereaved because of Covid-19. For most of us, this is the most severe national crisis we have ever experienced.
In addition to medical, social and economic impacts, the pandemic is also taking its toll on public mental health, worsening the condition of those who have existing psychological problems and provoking widespread health and death anxiety in those who previously were psychologically stable. The loss of normal social intercourse, and interruption of relationships and communication, will make society more vulnerable to depression and suicide. Lock-down also creates huge challenges to those in abusive relationships. Those with obsessional compulsive difficulties may be worsened by the very real risk of infectious contamination from strangers and friends alike.
Frontline health and social care staff are particularly exposed, with incredible levels of work stress, frequent confrontation with death of their patients, who cannot be comforted by their relatives in their final hours, alongside fear of personal infection and the possibility of bringing that infection home to their loved ones.
What is the role of psychology in this exceptional situation? How can we assist with public anxiety and individual mental health in these extraordinary circumstances? Do we have a role and responsibility to support frontline medical, nursing and care staff in our hospitals and residential care homes?
I will describe my own experience as Chair of the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK; my interactions with senior management in the British National Health Service; national provision for psychological support, especially for healthcare staff; and the particular problems faced by Covid-19 patients during ICU admission and after discharge.

 

Biography:

Prof. Michael Wang, BSc(Hons), MSc(Clin.Psy), PhD, C. Psychol., FBPsS, is Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Clinical Psychology Unit, Centre for Medicine, University of Leicester,
and former Director of the National Health Service-funded Doctoral Postgraduate Clinical Psychology Training Course (2005-2014). He is a former Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the British Psychological Society. Prof. Wang is also a full practitioner member of the BPS Division of Neuropsychology and a member of the BPS Division of Health Psychology. He is Chair of the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK.
He has worked as a clinical psychologist for more than 35 years. Prior to his appointment in Leicester he was Director of the 6-year, integrated Doctoral Clinical Psychology Training Course at the University of Hull. Throughout his academic career he has maintained an Honorary Consultant role in the NHS, treating patients with anxiety disorders, depression and obsessional compulsive disorder. He has more than 20 years’ experience of examining patients with traumatic brain injury for the UK courts.
He obtained his three degrees from the University of Manchester: following graduating with a BSc in Psychology in 1978 he began his professional postgraduate training in Clinical Psychology in the Faculty of Medicine. Subsequently he completed a research PhD in 1990 which investigated learning and memory in alcoholics.
Over recent years Prof Wang has gained an international reputation for his research on cognitive and memory function during general anaesthesia. In 2004 he organized the 6th International Symposium on Memory and Awareness in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (in Hull) – the foremost international forum for clinical research in this particular field. He has held appointments on a number of prominent committees in the British Psychological Society including the professional accrediting body for clinical psychology training, and a committee that is in the process of determining national standards for competence in the use of neuropsychological tests. He has served as an expert advisor on a NICE (UK) Committee in relation to the monitoring of depth of anaesthesia and also as an expert member of the Royal College of Anaesthesia’s National Audit Project 5 (a national audit of anaesthetic awareness reports). In 1999 he was made Fellow of the British Psychological Society and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.
In 2015 he was awarded the Humphry Davy Medal by the Royal College of Anaesthetists for his contribution to the understanding of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia.
Prof. Wang has published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and numerous book chapters. He has been an invited speaker at international conferences on more than 30 occasions. In collaboration with colleagues he has won more than £1.2 million in research funding. He has supervised more than 40 doctoral research projects over the past 25 years. He has been a regular contributor and session chair at recent InPACT conferences, and recently joined the conference team as a co-organiser.