TITLE:
COVID-19: Psychological Impact after Intensive Care Unit Hospitalisation
AUTHORS:
Siham El Aziz, Asma Chadli, Nassim Essabah Haraj, Anass Mounir, Soukaina Laidi, Salma Bensbaa, Lhoucine Barrou, Chafik El Hamidi El Kettani, Khadija Mchichi Alami, Mohamed Agoub, Hanane Ezzouine, Boubaker Charra, Afak Nsiri, Rachid Al Harrar, Ghali Mohamed Bennouna, Benyounesn Ramdani, Nabiha Kamal, Mohamed Benghanem Gharbi, Moulay Hicham Afif
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Mental Health, Stress, Anxiety, Depression
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.13 No.12,
November
29,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: Psychological consequences after a COVID-19 infection are more or less serious according to patients. Many risk factors exist and psychological support may be necessary to a better health care. Objective: Identify prevalence and risk factors of anxiety, depression, stress disorders and quality of life alteration after a COVID-19 infection. Methods: All patients hospitalized in the post-intensive unit care department after a COVID-19 infection were included, and we collected data’s concerning socio-demographic parameters, psychiatric disorders and clinical signs. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hamilton scales and post-traumatic stress according to the DSM-5 recommendations. The Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) was equally used to evaluate anxio-depressive symptoms probability. Quality of life was evaluated by the SF-36 questionnaire. IBM statistics SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Our study included 41 patients, with a mean age of 55 ± 18 (17 - 85) years, and a sex ratio F/M of 0.95. A minor to severe anxiety was found in 26.8% of patients and a depression in 31.7% of patients. The HADS showed a confirmed anxiety and depression in 24.4% of patients, with a previous intubation related to symptoms (p = 0.007). An acute stress was identified in 34.1% of patients with a higher prevalence in women (p = 0.052). A poor general health was related to older ages (p = 0.049), to hypertension (p = 0.01) and to female gender (p = 0.043). Conclusion: Prevalence of anxiety and depression after a COVID 19 infection is near on for three patients. Risk factors were older age, female gender, hypertension and a previous intubation. These psychological disorders lead to quality-of-life alteration needing a screening and a structured follow-up with a psychological support.