Mental health outcomes following COVID-19 infection: impacts of post-COVID impairments and fatigue on depression, anxiety, and insomnia - a web survey in Sweden.

Badinlou F, Lundgren T, Jansson-Fröjmark M

BMC Psychiatry 22 (1) 743 [2022-11-29; online 2022-11-29]

The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health is now clearly established. However, information on the levels of mental ill health of people infected with COVID-19 and potential correlates of poor mental health is still limited. Therefore, the current study aimed to study indicative of potential mental health problems in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection/infections and address the impacts of post-COVID impairments and fatigue following COVID-19 infection/infections on depression, anxiety, and insomnia. A web-survey including demographics, questions related to COVID-19 status and post-COVID impairments, and standardized measures of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue was completed by 507 individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection/infections. We found significant rates of significant depression, anxiety, and insomnia in our sample, with more than 70% experiencing levels above the clinical cut offs for at least one psychological health problems. Higher levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia were associated with the severity of COVID-19 infection in the acute phase, hospitalization because of COVID-19, and higher levels of post-COVID impairments and fatigue. Reduced motivation emerged as the strongest predictor for mental ill health. These findings highlight that individuals infected with COVID-19, especially those who still have experienced post-COVID impairments, are more likely to suffer from mental ill-health and may be more vulnerable for poor mental health outcomes. Therefore, more effective actions are needed to take in order to promote and protect mental health of individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection.

Category: Health

Type: Journal article

PubMed 36447183

DOI 10.1186/s12888-022-04405-0

Crossref 10.1186/s12888-022-04405-0

pmc: PMC9708120
pii: 10.1186/s12888-022-04405-0


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