Anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic context: merging demands and reflections for the practice

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is natural for people to feel anxious, due to the real risks imposed by the situation. However, the complex interrelationship between individual and collective characteristics can turn this health crisis into an especially favorable period for the development of anxiety disorders. Through a critical review of the technical-scientific literature on the subject matter, we sought to investigate the prevalence of anxiety, the individual risk and the protective factors associated with this outcome, and the underlying mechanisms that may be involved in the production of anxiety in the current scenario. Based on the outcomes found, the role of information in the production of this phenomenon was discussed, considering the features of the Brazilian context. Finally, reflections on interventions and therapeutic paths for managing anxiety during the pandemic were presented.