Effects of WeChat-based psychological interventions on the mental health of patients with suspected new coronavirus pneumonia: A pilot study.

Objective: Suspected patients with new coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) may suffer from unique mental health problems. However, the shortage of medical personnel and the infectiousness of the disease have challenged traditional psychological interventions. This study investigated the effects of a new WeChat-based psychological intervention on the mental health of suspected NCP patients.

Methods: This study included 48 participants (control group = 24 vs. intervention group = 24). The control group received conventional NCP nursing, and the intervention group received conventional NCP nursing and the WeChat psychological interventions. Participants completed the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS) on the day of, and the 14th day after, admission.

Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups (p > .05) regarding demographic characteristics, education, work status, anxiety, depression, or acute stress disorder on the day of admission (p > .05). On the 14th day after admission, the intervention group showed an improvement in anxiety (p < .05) and a significant improvement in depression and acute stress disorder compared with the control group (p < .01).

Conclusion: The WeChat-based psychological interventions can have a positive effect on the mental health problems of suspected NCP patients.