Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown measures had a profound impact on mental health, particularly among individuals with chronic illnesses. Patients with autoimmune arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are already at increased ri...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Azin Eslami, Pantea Allami, Sara KamaliZonouzi, Mohammadamin Ravanbakhsh, Sepideh Razi, Niloufar Yazdanpanah, Nima Rezaei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06996-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849687892696236032
author Azin Eslami
Pantea Allami
Sara KamaliZonouzi
Mohammadamin Ravanbakhsh
Sepideh Razi
Niloufar Yazdanpanah
Nima Rezaei
author_facet Azin Eslami
Pantea Allami
Sara KamaliZonouzi
Mohammadamin Ravanbakhsh
Sepideh Razi
Niloufar Yazdanpanah
Nima Rezaei
author_sort Azin Eslami
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown measures had a profound impact on mental health, particularly among individuals with chronic illnesses. Patients with autoimmune arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are already at increased risk for psychological disorders due to the chronic nature of their disease, physical disability, and long-term medication use. The added stress of the pandemic, including fear of infection, limited access to healthcare, and social isolation, may have further exacerbated mental health issues in this population. This systematic review aims to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals with autoimmune arthritis during the pandemic. A comprehensive search of major medical databases identified 18 relevant studies, encompassing 9,666 participants from various geographic regions. By synthesizing findings across diverse populations, this review examines the extent of the mental health burden in this vulnerable group and highlights the importance of mental health support during public health crises. Understanding these impacts can help guide future research and inform healthcare policies to better support autoimmune arthritis patients in times of crisis.
format Article
id doaj-art-ba2868f8e0594de59743de177a211f7b
institution DOAJ
issn 1471-244X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Psychiatry
spelling doaj-art-ba2868f8e0594de59743de177a211f7b2025-08-20T03:22:12ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-05-0125111210.1186/s12888-025-06996-wPrevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic reviewAzin Eslami0Pantea Allami1Sara KamaliZonouzi2Mohammadamin Ravanbakhsh3Sepideh Razi4Niloufar Yazdanpanah5Nima Rezaei6School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesSchool of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesSchool of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesSchool of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesCancer Immunology Project (CIP), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN)School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown measures had a profound impact on mental health, particularly among individuals with chronic illnesses. Patients with autoimmune arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are already at increased risk for psychological disorders due to the chronic nature of their disease, physical disability, and long-term medication use. The added stress of the pandemic, including fear of infection, limited access to healthcare, and social isolation, may have further exacerbated mental health issues in this population. This systematic review aims to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals with autoimmune arthritis during the pandemic. A comprehensive search of major medical databases identified 18 relevant studies, encompassing 9,666 participants from various geographic regions. By synthesizing findings across diverse populations, this review examines the extent of the mental health burden in this vulnerable group and highlights the importance of mental health support during public health crises. Understanding these impacts can help guide future research and inform healthcare policies to better support autoimmune arthritis patients in times of crisis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06996-wAutoimmune arthritisCOVID-19LockdownDepressionPTSD
spellingShingle Azin Eslami
Pantea Allami
Sara KamaliZonouzi
Mohammadamin Ravanbakhsh
Sepideh Razi
Niloufar Yazdanpanah
Nima Rezaei
Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review
BMC Psychiatry
Autoimmune arthritis
COVID-19
Lockdown
Depression
PTSD
title Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review
title_full Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review
title_fullStr Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review
title_short Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review
title_sort prevalence of anxiety depression and post traumatic stress disorder during the covid 19 lockdown in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus a systematic review
topic Autoimmune arthritis
COVID-19
Lockdown
Depression
PTSD
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06996-w
work_keys_str_mv AT azineslami prevalenceofanxietydepressionandposttraumaticstressdisorderduringthecovid19lockdowninpatientswithrheumatoidarthritisorsystemiclupuserythematosusasystematicreview
AT panteaallami prevalenceofanxietydepressionandposttraumaticstressdisorderduringthecovid19lockdowninpatientswithrheumatoidarthritisorsystemiclupuserythematosusasystematicreview
AT sarakamalizonouzi prevalenceofanxietydepressionandposttraumaticstressdisorderduringthecovid19lockdowninpatientswithrheumatoidarthritisorsystemiclupuserythematosusasystematicreview
AT mohammadaminravanbakhsh prevalenceofanxietydepressionandposttraumaticstressdisorderduringthecovid19lockdowninpatientswithrheumatoidarthritisorsystemiclupuserythematosusasystematicreview
AT sepidehrazi prevalenceofanxietydepressionandposttraumaticstressdisorderduringthecovid19lockdowninpatientswithrheumatoidarthritisorsystemiclupuserythematosusasystematicreview
AT niloufaryazdanpanah prevalenceofanxietydepressionandposttraumaticstressdisorderduringthecovid19lockdowninpatientswithrheumatoidarthritisorsystemiclupuserythematosusasystematicreview
AT nimarezaei prevalenceofanxietydepressionandposttraumaticstressdisorderduringthecovid19lockdowninpatientswithrheumatoidarthritisorsystemiclupuserythematosusasystematicreview