Mental health disorders associated with COVID-19 are classified among mental health disorders related to another medical condition. Studies conducted during this phase of the pandemic indicate that a high percentage of individuals experience mental health symptoms both during and after recovery from the illness.
Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have experienced:
• Insomnia – 42%
• Difficulty concentrating – 38%
• Anxiety – 36%
• Memory difficulties – 34%
• Depressed mood – 33%
• Confusion – 28%
In the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic, the following have been observed:
1. Adults
• Anxiety disorders – 29%
• Depression – 9–17%
• Irritability – 8–12%
• PTSD symptoms – 7%
2. Children
• Symptoms of anxiety and depression – 20%
• Two-thirds reported concerns about becoming infected.
3. Healthcare Workers
• Anxiety – 12–20%
• Depression – 15–25%
• Insomnia – 8%
• Trauma-related disorders – 35–49%
References:
Kaplan & Sadock: Synopsis of Psychiatry, twelfth edition
Kaplan & Sadock: Pocket Handbook of Clinical Psychiatry, fifth edition;
American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994;
Robert J. Waldinger: Psychiatry for Medical Students, third edition, translated by Anastas Suli.
World Health Organization. Director-General’s remarks at the media briefing on 2019-nCoV on 11 February 2020. http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-at-the-media-briefing (Accessed February 2022)