Bidirectional correlation between COVID-19 and psychological disorders: a prospective cohort study of patients with COVID-19

We attempted to conduct a two-year prospective cohort study on patients with COVID-19 and healthy peers as a control group to estimate the odds and risks of being diagnosed with psychiatric disorders as a result of infection by corona virus. In this prospective cohort study, 1186 subjects, including 865 patients with COVID-19 and 321 healthy individuals as the control group, were recruited from the community and clinics. During and two years after the acute phase of COVID-19, participants completed the demographic questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHO-QOL-BREF), and the psychiatric interview using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5). Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and Risk Ratio (RR) were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Statistic and Data Analysis (Stata) software. Uninfected people experienced substantially better QOL compared to infected people (P < 0.05). The results showed that COVID-19 disease affected QOL and its sub scales (P < 0.05). In addition, the incidence of psychiatric disorders among infected people was significantly higher than that of uninfected people (P < 0.05). Infection with COVID-19 increased the risk of depressive disorders (AOR = 1.2), substance use disorder (AOR = 2.31), panic disorder (AOR = 1.11), obsessive compulsive disorder (AOR = 1.11), adjustment disorder (AOR = 2.1) and insomnia (AOR = 1.57). We found a high incidence of psychiatric illness among COVID-19 survivors during the two years following the acute phase of the pandemic. These survivors also reported a lower quality of life. It is crucial to utilize our findings to increase awareness about the elevated risk of psychiatric and psychological illnesses among COVID-19 survivors. Additionally, it is essential to integrate psychological care as a key component of post-acute COVID-19 healthcare programs.