Page 93 - JCBP-2-4

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Psychopathology of COVID-19 patients

behavioral, emotional, and cognitive symptoms, which can cognitive losses estimated to be equivalent to a reduction
occur at regular intervals after the initial infection. 1 of approximately 10 IQ points. 6,7
COVID-19 is transmitted through droplets from pre- The impacts of COVID-19 on quality of life have not
symptomatic, asymptomatic, or symptomatic individuals been evenly distributed among populations of Organization
carrying the virus. COVID-19, primarily a respiratory and for Economic Cooperation and Development countries.
vascular disease, is caused by SARS-CoV-2, which mainly Although older individuals and men were more likely to
targets the respiratory and vascular systems. Post-COVID-19 die from COVID-19, women, and younger individuals
syndrome can manifest a wide range of complications, were more likely to experience severe declines in mental
including respiratory, renal, cardiovascular, rheumatologic, health and overall quality of life. Those with lower
dermatologic, neuropsychiatric, endocrinologic, urologic, incomes, the unemployed, and racial and ethnic minorities
and gastrointestinal issues. Depression, insecurity, stress, experienced worse mental and physical health outcomes
brain fog, declines in cognitive and executive functions, compared to the general population. Moreover, children
difficulty communicating with family and healthcare from disadvantaged households were at greater risk. 8
professionals, eating disorders, confinement, fear of death, Wong et al. highlighted a dramatic decrease of at least
9
uncertainty about recovery, stigmatization by others, and 33% in the quality of life of hospitalized COVID-19 patients,
social isolation are significant factors contributing to the compared to the healthy population, 3 months after hospital
worsening psychopathology in these patients. 2,3
discharge. Survivors of COVID-19 have an increased
Depression and anxiety are major contributors to the prevalence of comorbid conditions, which often lead to
mental health burden, with long-term economic and social severe, progressively worsening clinical outcomes. 9,10
consequences being inevitable. Comorbid psychiatric Biopsychosocial factors may contribute to the high rate
illnesses have been shown to increase the vulnerability of psychiatric symptoms in COVID-19 survivors. Direct
of individuals with depressive symptoms during the viral infection of the CNS, or indirect effects through
pandemic. Current literature suggests that the interaction the immune response, may lead to the development of
between neurocircuitry and neuroinflammation plays psychopathology in these patients. Social factors such as
a key role in the development of depression. Therefore, quarantine, isolation, social distancing, and economic
the neuroimmune response likely played a critical role hardship further exacerbate the psychopathology of
in the development of depression during the pandemic.
In addition to direct viral infection, an indirect immune COVID-19 survivors. Additionally, the widespread use
of the internet and smartphones has led to an overload of
response to the virus, such as cytokine production, may information, contributing to confusion, excessive worry,
have contributed to the development of psychiatric and unnecessary fear. ICU admission, in particular, has
symptoms. The association between gut microbiota and been noted to contribute to patients’ psychopathology.
mood disorders remains under scrutiny. Numerous studies During the outbreak, many individuals were also
have linked depression and anxiety to an imbalance in gut
flora, which leads to dysfunction in the gut-brain axis. 4,5 stigmatized due to their illness, further impacting their
psychological well-being. 11,12
Patients with severe COVID-19 have exhibited 6
Hall et al. demonstrated that symptomatic SARS-
persistent deficits in executive function. Several initial CoV-2 infections were associated with psychiatric
symptoms were found to be predictors of long-term symptoms and cognitive dysfunction. The coronavirus
outcomes, indicating that systemic inflammation and
neuroinflammation contribute to acute-phase COVID-19 can cause psychopathological sequelae either indirectly
symptoms. ICU stays have also been associated with through immune responses or directly through CNS
reduced executive function, which highlights the infection. Mechanisms contributing to COVID-19-related
importance of oxygen therapy. Hospitalized individuals neuropathology include a combination of direct viral
infection, neuroinflammation, severe systemic inflammation,
are more likely to experience impairments in attention, 13
executive function, category fluency, verbal memory, neurodegeneration, and microvascular thrombosis.
and information processing speed compared to non- The purpose of the present research is to investigate
hospitalized individuals. COVID-19 patients reporting the psychopathology of patients who have contracted
cognitive symptoms showed deficits in attention, COVID-19. The main objectives are to examine, measure,
executive function, episodic memory, and visuospatial study, and analyze the impact of depression, cognitive and
processing. Furthermore, COVID-19 survivors who executive functions, and demographic factors on patients’
required intubation displayed significantly slower mental quality of life. The research hypotheses are formulated as
processing speeds and less accurate verbal reasoning, with follows:

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 2 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.3879