Psychiatric symptoms screening among patients suffering from COVID-19 infection attending Kasr-Al-Ainy outpatient clinic: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has a serious impact on mental well-being. The rapid spread of the pandemic, effects of quarantine or isolation, financial and physical burden of the disease caused a general state of anxiety, stress, and depression. This study aimed to screen for anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia among patients suffering from mild or moderate COVID-19. Methods: This observational cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 203 COVID-19 patients who attended the COVID-19 outpatient clinic in Kasr Al-Ainy hospital, Egypt, in a time frame from July 2020 to February 2021. They were subjected to: full history, examination, imaging and Psychometric tools. Results: Majority of the included patients (203) were 30 years of age and less (27.6 %). Most of the patients had extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress (65%, 77.8% & 48.3% respectively), while insomnia was moderate to severe in 36 % of the sample. Myalgia was the most common complaint among all patients. Anxiety, stress and depression were positively correlated with insomnia severity index score (P= 0.014), statistically negative correlation was found between chronic illness and history of chest disease with insomnia severity index (p=0.038). Conclusion: Depression, anxiety and stress were remarkably high among our patients, while insomnia was moderate to severe in 36 % of the sample.

Keywords

• covid-19
• anxiety
• stress
• depression
• insomnia