Six-month psychiatric outcomes among survivors of COVID-19

Purpose: Long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms are closely associated with psychiatric sequelae. However, little is known about whether it is possible to predict a protracted course early in the disease. In this study, we aimed to understand how post-COVID-19 psychiatric symptomatology evolves over time and the variables that affect these symptoms.Materials and Methods: Anxiety, depression, acute stress, and sleep disorders among patients with COVID19 were prospectively evaluated during hospitalization and six months after discharge. Adult patients recently admitted to non-intensive care units with COVID-19 were eligible. Their psychiatric status was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The patients' clinical data were gathered from hospital records. Six months after they were discharged, the same questionnaire and a checklist to assess ongoing physical symptoms were distributed to the patients via WhatsApp.Results: 143 participants were enrolled, 47 of whom completed the study. The results showed that patients' depression, anxiety, and insomnia significantly decreased during the follow-up. However, there was an increase in the number of patients who reported acute stress symptoms. The highest C-reactive protein level during acute infection (OR=1.09) predicted depression during the follow-up. Experiencing a higher number of infectious symptoms during hospitalization predicted a higher number of protracted symptoms six months later (OR=1.5).Conclusion: This indicates that the severity of systemic inflammation during acute COVID-19 infection may predispose patients to persistent depression. Patients with a higher number of symptoms during acute infection may be at risk of developing long-term COVID-19.