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Depressive Symptoms among Individuals Hospitalized with COVID-19: Three-Month Follow-Up
Paolo Vassalini1, Riccardo Serra2, Lorenzo Tarsitani2
1Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Insights
Three months after COVID-19 hospitalization, 14.8% of patients showed depressive symptoms. Female sex, chronic pulmonary conditions, and prior mental health issues predicted depression, highlighting the need for careful psychiatric monitoring post-discharge.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors may experience long-term psychiatric issues, including depression and suicidal ideation.
- These conditions can lead to chronic impairment and reduced quality of life.
- Limited research exists on the prevalence and risk factors of depression and suicidality in COVID-19 patients post-discharge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.
- To identify risk factors associated with depression three months after COVID-19 hospitalization.
- To inform clinical monitoring and support for COVID-19 survivors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 115 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were interviewed via telephone three months post-discharge.
- The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms and suicidality.
- Linear and binary logistic regression models were employed to identify risk factors.
Main Results:
- 14.8% of participants (N=17) were diagnosed with depression based on PHQ-9 scores.
- Seven participants reported suicidal ideation.
- Female sex, pre-existing pulmonary conditions, and previous mental disorders predicted depressive disorder, while disease severity did not.
Conclusions:
- A significant minority of COVID-19 survivors experience depression and suicidal ideation three months post-discharge.
- A history of psychiatric disorders is a key predictor of developing depression after COVID-19.
- Clinicians should proactively screen for and monitor psychiatric symptoms in COVID-19 patients during follow-up care.
Abstract:
Individuals affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may experience psychiatric symptoms, including depression and suicidal ideation, that could lead to chronic impairment and a reduction in quality of life. Specifically, depressive disorder shows high incidence and may lead to chronic impairment and a reduction in the quality of life. To date, no studies on the presence of suicidality and quantitative analysis of depressive symptoms and their risk factors have yet been published. In this study, we aim to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and related risk factors at 3 months after discharge to home care following hospitalization for COVID-19 infection.
Methods:
Participants were contacted three months after hospital discharge from one of the five COVID-19 hospitals in Rome, as part of a larger project on health outcomes in COVID-19 inpatients (Long Term Neuropsychiatric Disorder in COVID-19 Project), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was administered by telephone interview.
Results:
Of 115 participants, 14.8% (N = 17) received a PHQ-9-based diagnosis of depression, and n = 7 of them scored 1 or more on the item on suicidality. A linear regression model showed the predictive role of female sex, pulmonary chronic condition and previous mental disorder in the development of depressive disorder; the latter was confirmed also by binary logistic regression. Severity indexes of disease (length of hospitalization and intensive care treatment) were found not to be associated with the development of depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
A small but clinically meaningful number of participants in the current study reported that they experienced symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation 3 months post-discharge from their COVID-19 hospitalization. In particular, given the findings that a history of prior psychiatric disorders was predictive of the development of depression symptoms, clinicians should carefully monitor for the presence of all psychiatric symptoms at follow-up visits.
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