JMIR Mental Health (Feb 2022)

The Impact of Long COVID-19 on Mental Health: Observational 6-Month Follow-Up Study

  • Sarah Houben-Wilke,
  • Yvonne MJ Goërtz,
  • Jeannet M Delbressine,
  • Anouk W Vaes,
  • Roy Meys,
  • Felipe VC Machado,
  • Maarten van Herck,
  • Chris Burtin,
  • Rein Posthuma,
  • Frits ME Franssen,
  • Herman Vijlbrief,
  • Yvonne Spies,
  • Alex J van 't Hul,
  • Martijn A Spruit,
  • Daisy JA Janssen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2196/33704
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 2
p. e33704

Abstract

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BackgroundThe psychological impact of COVID-19 can be substantial. However, knowledge about long-term psychological outcomes in patients with COVID-19 is scarce. ObjectiveIn this longitudinal, observational study, we aimed to reveal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of anxiety and depression up to 6 months after the onset of COVID-19–related symptoms in patients with confirmed COVID-19 and persistent complaints. To demonstrate the impact in nonhospitalized patients, we further aimed to compare these outcomes between nonhospitalized and hospitalized patients. MethodsDemographics, symptoms of PTSD (Trauma Screening Questionnaire [TSQ] ≥6 points) and symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] ≥8 points) were assessed at 3 and 6 months after the onset of COVID-19–related symptoms in members of online long COVID-19 peer support groups. ResultsData from 239 patients with confirmed COVID-19 (198/239, 82.8% female; median age: 50 [IQR 39-56] years) were analyzed. At the 3-month follow-up, 37.2% (89/239) of the patients had symptoms of PTSD, 35.6% (85/239) had symptoms of anxiety, and 46.9% (112/239) had symptoms of depression, which remained high at the 6-month follow-up (64/239, 26.8%, P=.001; 83/239, 34.7%, P=.90; 97/239, 40.6%, P=.08, respectively; versus the 3-month follow-up). TSQ scores and HADS anxiety and depression scores were strongly correlated at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups (r=0.63-0.71, P<.001). Symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression were comparable between hospitalized (n=62) and nonhospitalized (n=177) patients. ConclusionsA substantial percentage of patients with confirmed COVID-19 and persistent complaints reported symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, or depression 3 and 6 months after the onset of COVID-19–related symptoms. The prevalence rates of symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression were comparable between hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients and merely improved over time. Health care professionals need to be aware of these psychological complications and intervene on time in post-COVID-19 patients with persistent complaints. Trial RegistrationNetherlands Trial Register NTR8705; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8705.