Depressive Symptoms among Individuals Hospitalized with COVID-19: Three-Month Follow-Up

Abstract

Individuals affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may experience psychiatric symptoms, including depression and suicidal ideation, that could lead to chronic impairment and a reduction in quality of life. Specifically, depressive disorder shows high incidence and may lead to chronic impairment and a reduction in the quality of life. To date, no studies on the presence of suicidality and quantitative analysis of depressive symptoms and their risk factors have yet been published. In this study, we aim to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and related risk factors at 3 months after discharge to home care following hospitalization for COVID-19 infection. Methods: Participants were contacted three months after hospital discharge from one of the five COVID-19 hospitals in Rome, as part of a larger project on health outcomes in COVID-19 inpatients (Long Term Neuropsychiatric Disorder in COVID-19 Project), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was administered by telephone interview. Results: Of 115 participants, 14.8% (N = 17) received a PHQ-9-based diagnosis of depression, and n = 7 of them scored 1 or more on the item on suicidality. A linear regression model showed the predictive role of female sex, pulmonary chronic condition and previous mental disorder in the development of depressive disorder; the latter was confirmed also by binary logistic regression. Severity indexes of disease (length of hospitalization and intensive care treatment) were found not to be associated with the development of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: A small but clinically meaningful number of participants in the current study reported that they experienced symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation 3 months post-discharge from their COVID-19 hospitalization. In particular, given the findings that a history of prior psychiatric disorders was predictive of the development of depression symptoms, clinicians should carefully monitor for the presence of all psychiatric symptoms at follow-up visits.

Psychiatric symptoms in Long-COVID patients: a systematic review

“…As shown in Figure 1 , from 2078 records screened on title and abstract, 114 full texts were analyzed. The review process led to the selection of 33 studies ( 3 , 4 , 6 – 8 , 14 – 41 ). These studies, referring to 33 different samples and involving a total of 282,711 LC participants, were included in the final selection and quantitative synthesis.…”

The Sexual Long COVID (SLC): Erectile Dysfunction as a Biomarker of Systemic Complications for COVID-19 Long Haulers

“…However, the long-term effects of lockdown and social isolation policies for mental health, mainly in regards to depression and anxiety, are still an open question. Currently available studies report a 15% prevalence of depressive symptoms 76 and a 19% prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (10.4% overt, 8.6% subclinical) 77 at three months post-discharge. At present it is expected that rates of PTSD, anxiety and depression will increase 78 for COVID long haulers, although symptoms are supposed to improve over time 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 .…”

COVID-19 pandemic in the intensive care unit: Psychological implications and interventions, a systematic review

“…People who are admitted to ICUs may already have or not have psychological distress; ICU admission may worsen pre-existing psychological distressed, expressed as a variety of psychiatric symptoms which resemble post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, excessive worrying, insomnia, and anxiety, or may induce newly developed psychological distress. An Italian study found that ICU admission may be associated with increased depression levels and suicidal ideation in a small, but clinically significant proportion of patients with COVID-19, and may worsen pre-existing depression[ 27 ]. A Turkish study showed depression may be mediated by restricted visits to the ICU patient, while anxiety was mediated by ICU admission itself[ 28 ].…”