Alberto Abad^1*, Juliana Almeida da Silva^2,3, Lucas Emmanuel Pedro de Paiva Teixeira⁴, Mayra Antonelli-Ponti⁵, Sandra Bastos⁶, Cláudia Helena Cerqueira Mármora⁷, Luis Antonio Monteiro Campos^8,9, Scheila Paiva^1,10, Renato Leonardo de Freitas^3,11,12*, José Aparecido da Silva¹³

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¹ Psychology Graduate Program, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
² Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
³ Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
⁴ Institute of Motricity Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Brazil.
⁵ Laboratory of Studies and Research in Social Economy, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
⁶ Otorhinolaryngology Institute (ISBO), São Paulo, Brazil.
⁷ Department of the Old, Adult and Maternal-Infant, School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Program in Psychology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
⁸ Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁹ Master’s Program in Psychology, Catholic University of Petrópolis, Petrópolis, Brazil.
¹⁰ Speech Therapy of Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Lagarto, Brazil.
¹¹ Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
¹² Laboratory of Neurosciences of Pain & Emotions and Multi-User Centre of Neuroelectrophysiology, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
¹³ Laboratory of Psychophysics, Perception, Psychometrics, and Pain, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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Abstract: COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread exponentially worldwide, especially in America. At the end of August 2020, Brazil is one of the most affected countries with more than three and a half million cases and up to 114,250 deaths. This study aims to assess the fear and peri-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemics in Brazil, to enhance infection control methods, appropriate interventions, and public health policies. A cross-sectional survey has been conducted from April 12^th to 18^th using the Peri-Traumatic Distress Scale (CPDI) and the Fear Scale (FCV-19S) aiming to measure the peri-traumatic stress and fear as psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, an online spreadsheet was used to send the questionnaire and scales to a sample of 1844 participants as a collecting information tool. Significant positive relationship (r = 0.660, p < 0.001) and internal consistencies on CPDI and FCV-195 scales (Cronbach Alfa scores 0.90 and 0.88 respectively) were shown. Results highlight significant gender differences as in both scales women’s mean scores are higher showing that it is paramount that women’s voices were represented in policy spaces as socially constructed gender roles place them in a strategic position to enhance multi-level interventions (primary and secondary effects of COVID-19), equitable policies, and new approaches to control the pandemic.

Keywords: Mental Health, Fear, Peri-Traumatic Stress, COVID-19, Pandemic, Brazil

Cite this paper: Abad, A. , da Silva, J. , de Paiva Teixeira, L. , Antonelli-Ponti, M. , Bastos, S. , Mármora, C. , Campos, L. , Paiva, S. , de Freitas, R. , da Silva, J. (2020) Evaluation of Fear and Peritraumatic Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 10, 184-194. doi: 10.4236/aid.2020.103019.

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