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The course and determinants of post-traumatic stress over 12 months after hospitalization for COVID-19

Knut Stavem1,2,3, Trond Heir2,4, Toril Dammen2,5

  • 1Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|August 1, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms decreased significantly within 3 months of COVID-19 hospitalization but remained stable thereafter. Disease severity did not predict PTSD development in this patient cohort.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Psychiatry
  • Infectious disease epidemiology

Background:

  • COVID-19 hospitalization can lead to persistent psychological distress.
  • Understanding the long-term mental health impact of COVID-19 is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and trajectory of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
  • To identify risk factors for persistent PTSD after COVID-19 hospitalization.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 251 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms assessed using the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) at 1.5, 3, and 12 months.
  • Multivariable mixed models used to analyze symptom changes and identify risk factors.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of symptom-defined PTSD was 14% at 1.5 months, decreasing to 8% at 3 months and 9% at 12 months.
  • Female sex, younger age, and non-Norwegian origin were associated with higher PCL-5 scores.
  • No association was found between PTSD symptoms and COVID-19 disease severity.

Conclusions:

  • PTSD symptoms significantly decreased between 1.5 and 3 months post-hospitalization but did not further improve by 12 months.
  • Factors such as female sex, younger age, and non-Norwegian ethnicity are associated with increased PTSD symptom burden.
  • COVID-19 disease severity was not a predictor of PTSD development or persistence.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19PCL-5 questionnairecohortfollow-upmedium-termpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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