Psychiatric evaluation of individuals treated with the diagnosis of COVID-19 following recovery period

Abstract

Objective: A limited number of studies are available on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Studies have mostly focused on general population and healthcare providers at risk. There are no studies in the literature investigating the mental status of COVID-19 patients during the post-treatment period. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mental status of the adults recovering from COVID-19. Method: Fifty adults with a clinically confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and a post-discharge period of at least one month were included in the study. Results: Among the study sample, other specified anxiety disorder (diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder were met except for the duration) was diagnosed in 5 (10%) individuals, panic disorder in 3 (6%), other specified somatic symptom and related disorder (brief somatic symptom disorder) in 2 (4%) individuals, and major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other specified insomnia disorder (brief insomnia disorder) in one individual each (%2). There were 6 (12%) participants with subthreshold anxiety and 2 (4%) participants with subthreshold depression. No mental disorder was identified in the remaining 28 (56%) participants. Discussion: Despite important limitations, the current study revealed that anxiety symptoms are quite common in individuals recovering from COVID-19.