Anxiety-Depressive Disorders in 200 Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Prevalence and Predictors from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and

Objectives

Recovering from COVID-19 does not always imply a full return to health and may lead to the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome. Post-COVID-19 manifestations include, among others, symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders and to identify their exogenous and endogenous predictors in individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Materials and

Methods

The study included 200 participants (116 women and 84 men, aged 18-80) diagnosed with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Participants completed psychological assessments, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Comorbidities were also evaluated.

Results

Based on the HADS, anxiety was identified in 41.5% of respondents and depression in 39.5%. Generalized anxiety disorder was screened positive for 36.5% of respondents (GAD-7), while mild depression was observed in 37.0% (BDI). Among participants with post-COVID-19 syndrome and diabetes, the risk of developing depression was three times higher than in individuals without comorbidities. In smoking women with post-COVID-19 syndrome and diabetes, the risk of developing depressive disorders was estimated to exceed 90%.

Conclusions

The risk of developing anxiety and depressive disorders in individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome and multimorbidity is very high, highlighting the need for preventive psychological care, including targeted screening programs, for those at greatest risk.