One-fifth of COVID-19 patients will experience mental health issues within three months

Details of the new study

In recent months, the number of reports has increased Remember, there is a relationship between those who recover from Covid-19 And injury With mental health issues. We now have some numbers to back up those reports; A new study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, found that approximately One-fifth of people with COVID-19 will be diagnosed with mental illness Within three months of a positive test result.

Method of calculating numbers

Researchers at the University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Center for Biomedical Health Research collected electronic health records from nearly 70 million patients in the United States, including 62,354 people diagnosed with COVID-19 from the 20 January to April 1, 2020. Their condition did not require hospitalization. They found that 18% of patients were diagnosed with mental health issues within 14 to 90 days of being diagnosed with COVID-19.

To compare patients with Covid-19 with those with other problems, the team compared data with six other cases (including flu and fractures) during the same time period. And they found that the likelihood of first diagnosing Covid-19 patients with a mental health problem was twice as likely to be diagnosed in those with other conditions. The most common illnesses were anxiety disorders, insomnia and dementia.

Additionally, people with a pre-existing mental health condition – particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, or schizophrenia – were 65% more likely to develop COVID-19.

Psychological effects on people with corona

We’ve been warned for months of Big wave of mental health issues is coming due to the epidemic. Professor Teal Wakes, Associate Dean for Psychology and Systems Science at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at Kings College London, who was not involved in this research, says: “We know how to ‘after previous outbreaks that mental health issues typically arise in recovered people, and this study shows the same The model is after Covid-19, so it’s not surprising. “

Either way, we need to be prepared to deal with more mental health issues in the community in the months and years to come. “This is clearly the tip of the iceberg. We need to put in place as many different forms of accessible mental health support as possible.