A new study has revealed that COVID-19 patients experience mental illness. Researchers at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy documented the cases of at least 402 patients after a survey who were facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, among other illnesses, reported The Indian Express (TIE).
The findings of their new study are expected to be published in the journal Brain, Behaviour and Immunity.
The study found that after getting discharged, COVID-19 patients showed:
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- PTSD
- Insomnia
- Delirium
- Depression
- Anxiety
Who showed more psycho-pathological symptoms?
- Females, especially those with a previous psychiatric diagnosis
- Younger patients showed higher levels of depression and sleep disturbances
The pre-COVID-19 diagnosis of some of these patients:
- Major depressive illnesses
- Generalised anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Bipolar disorder
- Social phobia
- Eating problems
The co-relation between COVID-19 and psychiatric manifestations:
There are two possible pathways:
- When the virus directly affects the central nervous system (CNS)
- Indirect, via an immune response
According to the study, when an infection triggers the immune system, the patient may be unable to endure the psychological stress and this may, in turn, lead to stress-associated inflammation, TIE reported.
“Cytokine Storms”, which are an immune system response to coronaviruses, can also cause psychiatric symptoms in those infected.
Other reasons for psychiatric manifestations:
- The fear of the illness itself
- Uncertainty of the future
- Stigma
- Traumatic memories of severe illness
- Social isolation
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