The mental health impact of coronavirus is just beginning to be felt. According to a new study, over half of the people who tested positive for coronavirus and received hospitalised treatment reported psychiatric disorders a month on.
These conditions ranged from PTSD, depression and anxiety. 402 patients observed after being treated for the virus in a hospital in Milan. Italy was badly affected in the months of March and April, with reports of overwhelmed hospitals and high mortality rate.
55% had at least one psychiatric disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was seen in 28% of cases, depression in 31%, and anxiety in 42%. 40% of patients reported insomnia, and 20% had obsessive-compulsive symptoms, reports The Guardian.
The paper, published in the journal Brain, Behaviour and Immunity, warns of long-term mental health impact on coronavirus survivors and resources needed to provide support.
PTSD, major depression, and anxiety are all high-burden non-communicable conditions associated with years of life lived with disability.
"It is recommended to evaluate the psychopathology of COVID-19 survivors, and to expand research on inflammatory biomarkers, to diagnose and treat emerging psychiatric conditions."
The gender divide of the group was 265 men and 137 women. While women were less likely to die of COVID, the psychological impact was felt much more on women.
The researchers attribute the psychiatric impact on the immune response of the virus itself, or blame social stressors like social isolation, dealing with a potentially fatal illness and fear of infecting others including their loved ones.
Longer stay in ICU was linked to more severe outcomes. The study calls for more support in hospitals itself for patients dealing with COVID-19.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)