BACKGROUND:
The annual increase in the number of patients with symptoms of affective pathology caused by the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 makes it necessary to study this problem.
AIMS: to study the risk of COVID-19 consequences in the form of symptoms of affective pathology in students of medical schools.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The study involved 131 students of medical schools: female (n=89) and male (n=42) aged 18 to 31 years, who had suffered a new coronavirus infection COVID-19 (U04.9, U07.1, U07.2), who had not previously been diagnosed with a mental disorder (headings [F00-F99] ICD-10). Clinical-psychopathological, psychometric and descriptive statistical methods were used.
RESULTS:
It was revealed that in the study group of students, in most cases, SARS-CoV-2 infection was mild (75.6%, n=99). Female and male students had the effects of COVID-19 in the form of psychopathological symptoms: manifestations of asthenia (77.9% of the studied), deterioration of cognitive functions (54.2%); affective disorders were detected in 40.4% of the studied women, much less often symptoms of mood disorder were found in men. It was also revealed that hypochondriacal experiences in the post-COVID period are much more common in women. Among all respondents, the effects of COVID-19 in the form of psychopathological symptoms manifested not only in the first weeks after the viral disease, but also persisted for up to several months (in 36.6% of respondents), without reaching the degree of affective disorder. As a result of the conducted psychometric research methods (The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), HCL-32 (Hypomania Checklist), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)), an increased level of anxiety and cyclothyme-like mood swings were revealed among female and male students.
CONCLUSIONS:
Students who had suffered from COVID-19, who did not have a previously established diagnosis of affective disorders, the most common consequences of COVID-19 (in women and men equally) were symptoms of asthenia. Cyclothyme-like mood swings with a predominance in female students were revealed. During psychometric research methods, it was revealed that situational and personal anxiety in female and male students reaches a moderate level, the tendency to depression prevails in women.