Published online Aug 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i22.7832
Peer-review started: January 25, 2022
First decision: April 18, 2022
Revised: April 21, 2022
Accepted: July 6, 2022
Article in press: July 6, 2022
Published online: August 6, 2022
Processing time: 177 Days and 21.2 Hours
The authors designed a prospective study to compare the scores at baseline (hospitalization) of patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on a rating scale measuring anxiety and depression with their scores at the end (after 20-22 mo). This is the longest follow-up study in the literature.
The course of long-term psychiatric symptoms related to COVID-19 is still unknown.
To evaluate how anxiety and depression progress and identify the factors that play a role in this course by long-term follow-up.
A large number of patients were reached in a short time using the telepsychiatry method.
In our study, we observed that anxiety and depression scores increased during the follow-up. The continuation of long-term follow-up studies will contribute to the clarification of the subject.
The authors found that the mean scores of anxiety and depression increased in the follow-up after recovery in patients who had COVID-19. This confirmed the knowledge that there may be various permanent or temporary mental symptoms related to COVID-19. The authors observed that the symptoms of anxiety and depression secondary to COVID-19 increased while we expected them to decrease in the long follow-up. For this reason, patients with COVID-19 should be examined as soon as possible and necessary treatments should be given.
More comprehensive follow-up studies for psychiatric symptoms secondary to COVID-19 should be continued and the importance of early intervention should be emphasized.