Since the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia outbreak (previously referred to as "Wuhan pneumonia") that originated in Wuhan, China on December 1, 2019 spread to Korea, an arduous march has just begun in Korea. 1 After the spread of the atypical COVID-19 pneumonia from Wuhan, China to Korea by a patient was first reported, 2 a communitybased spread has occurred in Korea. Although the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia in China have been rapidly reported, 3 its early phase characteristics, prediction of progress from upper respiratory infection to pneumonia, and other information have not yet been clearly understood. Based on the information regarding the outbreak cases, upgraded quarantine and isolation measures has been suggested to resist the spread of the COVID-19 in Korea. 4 An outbreak of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-nCoV) infection between May and December 2015 in Korea resulted in 186 cases of infection, 38 deaths, and 16,692 exposed individuals who were quarantined. Despite the elapsed time since this outbreak, a high risk of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were reported by healthcare workers who treated the MERS-nCoV infected patients and by hemodialysis patients in quarantine. 5 Additionally, the negative emotion and stress experienced by the healthcare workers who treated the MERS-nCoV infected patients were characterized by trigger events categorized into mistake, missing, delay due to communication failure, and others. Therefore, the identification of the trigger events was suggested as an important hospital management guideline during an infectious disease outbreak. 6 Moreover, among the exposed individuals in quarantine not diagnosed with the MERS-nCoV

A narrative review about the relationship between stress, inflammation, and depression is made as follows: Chronic stress leads to various stress-related diseases such as depression. Although most human diseases are related to stress exposure, the common pathways between stress and pathophysiological processes of different disorders are still debatable. Chronic inflammation is a crucial component of chronic diseases, including depression. Both experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that an increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stress hormones, such as glucocorticoids, substantially contributes to the behavioral alterations associated with depression. Evidence suggests that inflammation plays a key role in the pathology of stress-related diseases; however, this link has not yet been completely explored. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of inflammation in stress-induced diseases and whether a common pathway for depression exists. Recent studies support pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches significantly associated with ameliorating depression-related inflammation. In addition, major depression can be associated with an activated immune system, whereas antidepressants can exert immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, non-pharmacological treatments for major depression (i.e., exercise) may be mediated by anti-inflammatory actions. This narrative review highlights the mechanisms underlying inflammation and provides new insights into the prevention and treatment of stress-related diseases, particularly depression.

Kim D, et al. Psychiatry Investig. 2011 Dec;8(4):305-311. http://dx.doi.org/10.4306/pi.2011.8.4.305