More than HALF of adults who have been infected with COVID-19 have symptoms of depression, a new study shows
- Researchers have surveyed 3,904 people who have been infected with COVID-19 in the past, but have since recovered
- Of the total, 2,046 patients, or 54.2%, met the criteria they considered to have symptoms of depression
- Many have reported difficulty sleeping or concentrating, loss of appetite, feeling tired, or finding little pleasure in life.
- Younger people were more likely to be depressed than older adults, and men were more prone to symptoms than women.
- People who said their COVID cases were severe were five times more likely to report symptoms of depression.
More than half of American adults who have been previously infected with COVID-19 have symptoms of depression, a new study suggests.
The researchers found that 54.2 percent of patients who recovered from the disease met the criteria for “moderate or greater symptoms of major depression.”
Many have reported difficulty sleeping or concentrating, loss of appetite, feeling tired, or finding little pleasure in life.
The team, led by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, also found that people who reported that their coronavirus case was severe were five times more likely to have symptoms of depression.
A new study found that of 3,904 people who had been infected with COVID-19 in the past, but had since recovered 54.2%, met the criteria they considered to have symptoms of depression (above).
People who said their COVID cases were severe were five times more likely to report symptoms of depression. Pictured: Healthcare workers use a CPAP device on a COVID-19 patient at Providence St Mary’s Medical Center in Apple Valley, California, January 2021
For the study published in the JAMA Network Open, the team analyzed data from eight waves of surveys conducted between June 2020 and January 2021.
Respondents were restricted to 3,904 people who said they had been infected with COVID-19 in the past, but have since recovered.
They were asked to rate how severe their illness was and whether they had had persistent symptoms since they were negative.
All participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire – 9 (PHQ-9), which is a diagnostic tool used to diagnose mood disorders, such as depression.
Patients are asked about their mood or behavior in the past two weeks, including whether they had “little interest or pleasure in doing things” or “felt down, depressed or hopeless.”
Those who complete the survey can choose one of the following “not at all”, “several days”, “more than half a day” or “almost every day”, which are scored from zero to three.
On a scale of zero to 27, people who scored 10 or more are considered to be moderately or severely depressed.
Among the participants, 2,046, or 52.4 percent, obtained a score high enough to be considered to have symptoms of major depression.
The researchers found that younger people were more likely to be depressed than older adults, with the risk that symptoms would increase by 24% every decade.
Women who had COVID-19 were about 28% less likely to have depressive symptoms compared to men.
In addition, people with severe COVID were five times more likely to report symptoms of depression.
The researchers found that those who suffered from headaches while infected were 33% more likely to be depressed later.
There was no association between other specified Covid symptoms, such as loss of taste and odor and risk of depression.
Our results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting the importance of considering potential neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 infection, the authors wrote.
Our results also suggest the importance of considering strategies that could alleviate the increased risk of depressive symptoms following acute infection.
