Anxiety and depression symptoms after COVID-19 infection: results from the COVID Symptom Study app. Issue 12 (28th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klaser, Kerstin; Thompson, Ellen J; Nguyen, Long H; Sudre, Carole H; Antonelli, Michela; Murray, Benjamin; Canas, Liane S; Molteni, Erika; Graham, Mark S; Kerfoot, Eric; Chen, Liyuan; Deng, Jie; May, Anna; Hu, Christina; Guest, Andy; Selvachandran, Somesh; Drew, David A; Modat, Marc; Chan, Andrew T; Wolf, Jonathan; Spector, Tim D; Hammers, Alexander; Duncan, Emma L; Ourselin, Sebastien; Steves, Claire J
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 92:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 1254
• Page End: 1258
• Publication Date: 2021-09-28
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- depression -- psychiatry; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-327565
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Mental health issues have been reported after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, comparison to prevalence in uninfected individuals and contribution from common risk factors (eg, obesity and comorbidities) have not been examined. We identified how COVID-19 relates to mental health in the large community-based COVID Symptom Study. Methods: We assessed anxiety and depression symptoms using two validated questionnaires in 413148 individuals between February and April 2021; 26998 had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We adjusted for physical and mental prepandemic comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), age and sex. Findings: Overall, 26.4% of participants met screening criteria for general anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression were slightly more prevalent in previously SARS-CoV-2-positive (30.4%) vs SARS-CoV-2-negative (26.1%) individuals. This association was small compared with the effect of an unhealthy BMI and the presence of other comorbidities, and not evident in younger participants (≤40 years). Findings were robust to multiple sensitivity analyses. Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anxiety and depression was stronger in individuals with recent (<30 days) versus more distant (>120 days) infection, suggesting a short-term effect. Interpretation: A small association was identified between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anxiety and depression symptoms. The proportion meeting criteria for self-reported anxiety and depression disorders is only slightly higher than prepandemic.