The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery (Oct 2024)

Psychiatric outcomes among COVID-19 egyptian patients at ain shams university quarantine hospitals: A cross-sectional study

  • Fairouz Tawfik,
  • Maha Mohamed Sayed,
  • Reem Hassan ElGhamry,
  • Mariam Yehia Mohamed,
  • Rahaf Mohamed Abdel Rahman,
  • Tarek Mohamed El Sehrawy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-024-00896-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 60, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Background Psychological repercussions resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been encountered, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study aimed to assess the frequency and severity of PTSD, depression, and anxiety in a sample of Egyptian patients with COVID-19 infection and analyze potential risk factors. The current study is a descriptive cross-sectional, hospital-based study, conducted from August 2020 to June 2021. The sample was selected from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection at Ain Shams University hospitals (outpatient clinics and inpatient units). Patients underwent a COVID severity criteria scoring system, structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I), PTSD checklist–Civilian Version (PCLC), Beck depression inventory, and Taylor’s manifest anxiety scale. Results PTSD was observed in 79.29% of the study sample, 61.43% had depression, and 18.57% had anxiety. The severity of COVID-19 infection was significantly associated with PTSD severity mean scores (P value = 0.027). Furthermore, a significant relationship was observed between the severity of depression and COVID-19 infection severity (P value = 0.028). The number of comorbid medical risk factors demonstrated significance to PTSD severity (P value = 0.014). Conclusion A significant portion of the study’s patients experienced psychiatric consequences following COVID-19 infection, with 79.29% developing PTSD, 61.43% suffering from depression, and 18.57% experiencing anxiety. Various factors, such as the presence of chronic medical illnesses and the number of co-morbid medical risk factors, were observed to contribute to these psychiatric outcomes. Therefore, comprehensive psychiatric assessment and management in COVID-19 patients especially with severe forms of the disease and hospitalized patients are mandatory.

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