Mental Illness Related to Post COVID-19 Treatment

Coronavirus pandemic is ending up being a significant stressor for the vast majority of mankind. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to a halt and has affected people in every aspect of life. Everyday some or other new scientific evidence related to the covid-19 impact on health is being found. Scientists have now discovered in new studies that psychological illusions and impairments may affect survivors of COVID-19. A recent research body notes that more than half of patients recovered from novel coronavirus exhibited signs of confusion, anxiety, delusion, PTSD, insomnia, and made them vulnerable to symptoms of depression and compulsive disorder. Healthcare Professionals have found COVID-19 treated patients returning with symptoms of exhaustion, headaches, insomnia, and shortness of breath, body pain, and loss of appetite, sore throat, and diarrhea. Mental health problems have also been noticed in post COVID treatment cases. It has been noticed that COVID-19 patients exhibit sleeplessness, panic, and anxiety after discharge. Psychiatrists, including healthcare professionals, have seen a steady inflow of such individuals and are noticing that among them there is a sense of apprehension and panic.

The evidence related to post COVID-19 mental illness was found after a post-operative care analysis was done on 402 patients who had been admitted to the hospital in recent months. The observations were derived from a self-questionnaire form filled by the patients who were involved in the study. It was found that 28% of patients suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 31% suffered from depression, and 42% suffered from anxiety. Also, 40% of patients had insomnia and 20% experienced signs of obsessive-compulsive (OC) disorder.

Citing the results of the report, the doctors issued an alarm claiming that the virus has harmful effects on one's mental well-being and makes a patient more likely to encounter long-lasting mental health issues, such as PTSD, psychosis, depression. These post-COVID diseases degrade the quality of life for years.

The results of the study also made an imperative point about the division of symptoms by gender. While men were said to be more likely to suffer from COVID mortality, the study found that women were more vulnerable to psychological distress and post-COVID-19 therapy problems. It was found that those with a positive psychological report struggled more than those without any history of mental illness or issues.

There might be more than one explanation that those treated for COVID-19 could be affected by psychological distress. Scientists believe that not only does the virus interfere with blood flow and nervous control, but also physiological factors such as social isolation, stigma, sleep disorders, and fears about spreading the virus to others, may create panic among people leading to stress on mental health. Even people who may be suffering from COVID-19 or not, also get panicked and experience stress on mental health.

Factors like lack of access to hospitalization and care could also contribute to post COVID-19 complications such as stigma, sleep problems, anxiety, isolation, loneliness, and depression. The most common symptoms among patients after discharge are sleeplessness, fear, and anxiety. Symptoms are aggravated among those with pre-existing psychological issues.

Scientists have tried to point out, aside from the new research, the significant effect a COVID infection may have on the brain. In patients, several symptoms have been reported including sudden loss of consciousness, delirium, and deterioration in memory, stroke, brain inflammation, and worsening of pre-existing conditions such as dementia. There is now growing evidence that anxiety, depression, psychosis, insomnia, and memory fogs can contribute to Covid-19. Thus, in conclusion, it should be noted that doctors say that they do not know how long it will take for Covid patients to fully recover, even from psychiatric illnesses, and that most of them need support from family and society.