Indian J Psychiatry. 2022 Sep-Oct;64(5):473-483. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_303_22. Epub 2022 Oct 12.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many studies across the globe have evaluated the adverse mental health consequences of COVID-19 in patients who suffered from COVID-19 infection. However, a comparative study of persons who suffered from COVID-19 infection and those who witnessed the COVID-19 infection in their close relatives is lacking.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the psychiatric morbidity in persons who suffered from COVID-19 infections, and those who witnessed the illness in one of their close relatives.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional online survey, 2,964 adult participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCS-19), Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and a self-designed questionnaire to evaluate other neuropsychiatric complications.

RESULTS: Compared to the close relatives who had witnessed COVID-19 infection, participants who developed COVID-19 infection had a significantly higher prevalence of depression (34.6%), anxiety disorder (32.3%), and fear of COVID-19 infection (18.8%), which was significantly higher than that noted in close relatives. However, BRS coping score was not significantly different between the two groups. Overall, about one-third of the participants who developed COVID-19 infection had depression and one-third had anxiety disorders. One-fifth of the participants reported high fear, post-traumatic symptoms, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, whereas one-sixth reported other neuropsychiatric manifestations.

CONCLUSION: Patients who suffered from COVID-19 have a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and fear as compared to those to witnessed COVID-19 in relatives.

PMID:36458084 | PMC:PMC9707660 | DOI:10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_303_22