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Mazza M, Marano G, Antonazzo B, Cavarretta E, DI Nicola M, Janiri L, Sani G, Frati G, Romagnoli E. What about heart and mind in the COVID-19 era? Minerva Cardiol Angiol 2020; 69:222-226. [PMID: 32397693 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5683.20.05309-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
From the time of Hippocratic medicine, heart-brain interactions have been recognized and contributed to both mental and physical health. Heart-brain interactions are complex and multifaceted and appear to be bidirectional. Exposure to chronic and daily stressors such as quarantine, or severe psychological trauma like a significant person in danger of life can affect the cardiovascular system and the emotional experience of the individual, leading to an increased risk of developing a cardiovascular disease or mental illness. Subjects with comorbidities between mental disorders and heart diseases are obviously more susceptible to be influenced by emotional burden due to the spread of COVID-19, with emotional responses characterized by fear, panic, anger, frustration. Psychological services and crisis interventions are needed at an early stage to reduce anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in such a stressful period, with a special attention to special groups of patients, such as women, children, or the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Mazza
- Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy -
| | - Giuseppe Marano
- Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Elena Cavarretta
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
| | - Marco DI Nicola
- Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Janiri
- Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Frati
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
| | - Enrico Romagnoli
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Institute of Cardiology, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy
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