Covid-19 symptoms are associated with poorer mental health and lower life satisfaction, a study published in The Lancet Psychiatry reports. Led by researchers from King's College London and University College London in collaboration with several institutions in the United Kingdom, the study assessed the impact of Covid-19 infection on subsequent mental health and well-being.
The study is part of the COVID-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core Study. The researchers collected data from 11 longitudinal studies between April 2020 and April 2021, covering 54,442 participants with and without self-reported Covid-19.
Lower life satisfaction and poorer mental health associated with Covid-19 symptoms
The study found that increased psychological distress, depression, anxiety and lower life satisfaction were associated with prior self-reported Covid-19. The association of Covid-19 with poorer mental health did not decrease over time following infection. This highlights the potential enduring impacts of Covid-19 and the need for a longer follow-up process from healthcare providers.
According to the study, psychological stress was constantly associated with self-reported Covid-19, regardless of whether people tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The effects were found to be similar in different groups of gender, ethnicity and socio-economic circumstances.
Older age groups showed the greatest impact on mental health from Covid-19 infection
The infection of Covid-19 might impact mental health most in older people, the study suggests. People with self-reported Covid-19 aged 50 years and above were found to show a stronger association with mental health, indicating that older people are more likely to experience more severe Covid-19 symptoms, increased risk of blood vessel and brain changes after infection, and greater worry around infection. These results contrast to previous studies on the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health, which showed that women and adults belonging to the age group of 25 to 44 years have had the greatest adverse impacts.
In a statement released by King's College London, Dr Ellen Thompson, joint first author on the paper,said the findings suggest that there were prolonged mental health consequences of Covid-19 infection for some people at the beginning of the pandemic. She added that understanding why this is the case will be important to find treatment strategies for those affected and prevent such effects in future pandemic waves.
Increase in depression and anxiety during first year of Covid-19 pandemic
The Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health, published on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10, says that during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an increase in awareness about the urgent mental health situation globally. In the first year of the pandemic, the prevalence of depression and anxiety was estimated to have increased by 25 per cent.
Long-term mental health outcomes linked to severe Covid-19
A study published in The Lancet Public Health in March, 2022, said that severe Covid-19 is linked to an increase in the risk of long-term adverse mental health effects.
The study found that non-hospitalised patients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to experience depressive symptoms up to 16 months after diagnosis compared to those never infected. Higher rates of depression and anxiety were observed in patients who were hospitalised for seven days or more, compared to people who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, but never bedridden.
For non-hospitalised patients with Covid-19, symptoms of depression and anxiety mostly subsided within two months, according to the study. Over the 16-month study period, patients who were bedridden for seven days or more remained at increased risk of depression and anxiety.
Chances of Covid-19 breakthrough infection may depend on mental health
A study published in the journal JAMA Network Open in April, 2022, said that people who are vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, and have a certain history of psychiatric conditions, have an increased risk of Covid-19. The finding may be related to impaired immune response and risky behaviours associated with some disorders.
The study authors observed that patients aged more than 65 with substance abuse, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder and anxiety, faced heightened risks of up to 24 per cent for breakthrough Covid-19. In case of people aged less than 65, the risks for breakthrough Covid-19 were up to 11 per cent higher than for those without a psychiatric history.