Structure and Dynamics of Depressive Disorders in Patients after the Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19)

• Published in: Neuroscience and behavioral physiology 2024-05, Vol.54 (4), p.531-535
• Main Authors: Osipova, N. N., At’kova, E. O., Akimova, D. D., Dmitrieva, E. V., Bardenshtein, L. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Appetite loss; Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Depression; Emotions; Fatigue; Infections; Infectious diseases; Lability; Medical treatment; Mental disorders; Mood; Neurobiology; Neurosciences; Patients; Sleep; Suicidal behavior
• ISSN: 0097-0549; 1573-899X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11055-024-01622-w

Objective . To analyze the dynamics of depressive disorders in patients who have had infections with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Materials and methods . A total of 30 female inpatients (average age 35.4 ± 3.0 years) undergoing treatment for symptoms on the depressive spectrum in accordance with ICD-10 categories F31–F34 and with histories of infection with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) (U04.9, U07.1, U07.2) took part in the study. Clinical, psychopathological, and statistical research methods were used. Results . The most common symptoms in patients ( n = 30) undergoing inpatient treatment for mood disorders were low mood (96.7%), anxiety (83.3%), decreased interest in everyday activities (40%), along with loss of appetite (36.7%). Patients who had depressive symptoms prior to COVID-19 displayed an increase in the number of symptoms of the affective register (suicidal thoughts in 83.3%) and asthenic manifestations in the form of increased fatigue (60%), sleep disturbances (73.3%), feelings of fatigue, weakness (60%), and emotional lability (40%), and decreased concentration (20%). Conclusions . In patients with depressive disorders who have had COVID-19, the most common symptoms of hypothymia were anxiety and suicidal thoughts, as well as asthenic manifestations in the form of fatigue, sleep disturbances, and emotional lability. An increase in the number of asthenic spectrum symptoms in patients with depressive disorders may indicate a possible connection between COVID-19 and affective pathology. The impact of coronavirus infection on the structure and dynamics of depressive disorders requires further study, taking account of the severity of affective symptoms, the influence of psychopharmacotherapy, and the severity of the infectious disease.