COVID-19 Patients Has More Risks of Mental Health Issues Than Other Respiratory Tract Infections

In comparison to those who had other forms of respiratory tract infections, COVID-19 patients had a roughly 25% greater chance of having a mental condition in the four months after their infection, according to new research.

According to co-author Lauren Chan, a Ph.D. student in nutrition at OSU's College of Public Health and Human Sciences, the findings support prior research on psychiatric issues among post-COVID patients, albeit the present study revealed a lesser effect than the earlier studies.

COVID-19 and Mental Health

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Researchers matched 46,610 COVID-19 positive people with control patients diagnosed with a separate respiratory tract infection in the present study, which was published in World Psychiatry, as per ScienceDaily.

They looked at the rate of mental conditions for two time periods: 21 to 120 days following patients' COVID diagnosis and 120 to 365 days after diagnosis, but only for patients who had never had a mental disease before.

COVID patients had a 3.8 percent chance of having a psychological condition, compared to 3.0% for other respiratory tract infections, according to researchers. The 0.8 percent difference translates to a 25% relative risk increase.

According to Chan, the vast sample size and the fact that this data cohort was drawn from throughout the United States provided researchers with a unique perspective on post-COVID side effects.

According to her, the findings demonstrate the need for both patients and health care professionals to be more proactive in treating mental health difficulties following COVID infection.

It's entirely normal for folks who have had COVID to seek treatment if they're feeling anxious or noticing changes in how they're moving through life from a psychiatric aspect, Chan said.

In the greater context of COVID and health care in the United States, Chan said that any rise in the number of persons seeking care, particularly psychiatric care, will put more strain on a system that is already overburdened.

Ben Coleman of the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, the study's principal author, is already working on a follow-up publication that will examine the link between symptoms of extended COVID and new-onset mental illness.

Take care of your mind

Maintaining a consistent daily schedule is critical for mental wellness, as per Mayo Clinic.

Maintain consistent hours for meals, bathing and dressing, work or study routines, and exercise in addition to a regular nighttime regimen.

Make time for hobbies that you like. You may feel more in control as a result of the predictability.

Constant reporting about COVID-19 in all forms of media might exacerbate sickness worries. Limit your use of social media to avoid being exposed to rumors and misleading information.

Limit other news you read, hear, or see, but stay current on national and local guidelines. Look for credible sources, such as the United States government.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It is critical for your mental health to keep a regular daily schedule.

Keep constant timings for meals, bathing and dressing, work or study routines, and exercise in addition to keeping to a regular nighttime pattern.

Make time for your favorite activities. You may feel more in control as a result of this predictability.

Constant COVID-19 news from a variety of sources might exacerbate sickness worries. Limit your exposure to rumors and misleading information through social media.

Limit other news you read, hear, or see, but be informed on national and local guidelines. Look for trustworthy sources, such as the United States Department of State. CDC and WHO.