Association of Acute Symptoms of COVID-19 and Symptoms of Depression in Adults

Source:

Perlis RH, Ognyanova K, Santillana M, et al. Association of Acute Symptoms of COVID-19 and Symptoms of Depression in Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(3):e213223. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.3223

Among more than 3900 individuals with prior COVID-19 illness surveyed between May 2020 and January 2021, 52.4% met criteria for moderate or greater symptoms of major depression. In regression models, these symptoms were more likely among younger respondents compared with older respondents and among men compared with women as well as among those with greater self-reported overall COVID-19 severity compared with those with lower severity.

These results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting the importance of considering potential neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 infection. The results also suggest the importance of considering strategies that might mitigate the elevated risk of depressive symptoms following acute infection.