Coronavirus intensive care survivors face similar mental health trauma to bombing victims, says top PTSD psychologist

A leading consultant who helped victims and witnesses of the 7/7 terror attacks get back on public transport urged people to seek help if they are struggling and "follow the science" to beat travel phobias
Frontline health workers are particularly at risk of experiencing mental health difficulties from their stressful work
GETTY IMAGES

Survivors of coronavirus on intensive care wards can experience similar traumatic mental health symptoms to bombing victims, a leading clinical psychologist who treated 7/7 victims has said.

It comes as mental health services are preparing for increased demand to treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and travel phobia.

Dr Nick Grey, a consultant at the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust during the July 2005 terror attacks, said it was normal for people to feel emotionally triggered by fears about catching the Tube amid the pandemic — but that it was important to follow scientific evidence about risk.

Studies found it was not just wounded survivors and witnesses suffering mental health fallout from the London bombings, but many people caught up in the chaos.

Getting down into Tube stations and on buses was one of the first steps trauma psychologists made after 7/7 to help patients recognise how their memories were being triggered – but realise the traumatic events were not happening to them “right now”, so they were not “stuck” with their worries.

Mental health services are preparing for increased demand to treat conditions such as travel phobia sparked by the pandemic
AFP

Dr Grey said: “The evidence suggests about 25 per cent of people who survive intensive care will develop post-traumatic stress disorder, so there’s a significant portion of people who may need psychological intervention.

“There are also the frontline workers, particularly those people working in intensive care where there’s a lot of loss and death.”

He added health staff who volunteered for redeployment into frontline roles were significantly more at risk of developing PTSD.

Seven hundred workers at King’s College Hospital visited special "rest and recharge rooms" by the third day of their opening after having to make relentless life-and-death decisions.

NHS staff have been heroes of the pandemic, but face their mental health being impacted
PA

Dr Grey said: “There’s a proportion of people who, following Covid-19, will have a post-traumatic stress disorder – or the same kinds of symptoms – as the London bombings, or being physically or sexually assaulted.”

Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares possibly triggered by something as simple as a colour similar to hospital protective equipment, and an elevated sense of risk of catching coronavirus on the train.

The good news is evidence-based interventions for PTSD and travel phobia make the conditions highly treatable, with three quarters of people no longer “significantly affected” by them afterwards, Dr Grey said.

Lead consultant clinical psychologist Dr Nick Grey
Jim Holden/Sussex Partnership NHS FT

People are being urged to seek advice from their GP or self-refer to local mental health services if their worries are starting to interfere with everyday life, where talking treatments include cognitive behaviour therapy.

Dr Grey, now consultant clinical psychologist and clinical research and training fellow at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s completely normal to have some anxiety or worry about going on public transport and going out again.

“We need to distinguish between the normal stress and worry that everyone to some degree will be experiencing and those people whose feelings have become chronic enough to significantly interfere with their life.

“The first thing we need to do is follow the evidence and the science.

“Let's follow the advice, let's be kind to one another.

“If we’re in enclosed space and the guidance is to wear a mask, then take personal responsibility and wear a mask.”

For more information visit nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters

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