Stress and coping in times of pandemic: Longitudinal follow-up of a group of medical patients

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health and medical care of patients with pre-existingconditions. We longitudinally evaluated perceived stress, psychological distress, and coping strategies in50 patients with medical diseases, finding that, 6 months after baseline evaluation, perceived stress andpsychological distress were increased, and that less use was made of active coping strategies. Age (youngerpatients), previous psychological problems, and altered medical treatments emerge as risk factors. Proactivedetection of psychopathological suffering is essential to prevent a parallel mental health pandemic fromunfolding. Covid-19 has had an impact on patients with medical diseases, expressed in increased psychologicalvulnerability that may interfere in their disease course. While telematic monitoring is an importantfactor in reducing impact, early detection of psychopathological symptoms is crucial to ensuring adherenceto treatments and to developing effective biopsychosocial approaches.