Health Commun.  2022 Dec;17(2):47-50. 10.15715/kjhcom.2022.17.2.47.

Post-recovery Stress, Anxiety, Depression in early and late COVID-19 Pandemic

• Kim DH

• KMID: 2538437
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15715/kjhcom.2022.17.2.47

Abstract

Purpose
: People who recovered from the COVID-19 complain of psychological symptoms such as stress, anxiety, and depression by psycho-social stress due to social labelling in the early stage of the epidemic. Stress, depression, anxiety, and degree of stress were compared between those recovered from early infection and those recovered from late infection.
Methods
: The ‘Perceived Stress Scale’ and ‘Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale’ was compared for patients recovering from early (February-May 2020) infection (n=20) and patients recovering from two years later (March-April 2022) infection (n=21).
Results
: The median age of patients recovering from early/late illness was 51.3/46.1 years. The average score of the perceived stress scale was higher in the early period(19.6±6.52), compare to late period(15.3±6.49), and severe stress was more common in early period(40%) compare to late period(14%). The average score of hospital anxiety and depression were significantly higher in early period(15.4±5.45), compare to late period(9.6±5.44). The average score of the anxiety domain was significantly higher in the early period(6.6±3.25) than late period(4.7±2.96), and severe anxiety(8point~) was more common in early period(45%) compare to late period(9.5%). The average score in depression domain was higher in the early period(8.4±3.86) than late period(6.1±3.21), and the severe depression(8point~) was more common in early period(70%) compare to late period(19%).
Conclusion
: Those who recovered after early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic showed significantly higher levels of stress perception, anxiety, and depression than patients in the late stages of the epidemic two years later.

Keyword

COVID-19; stress; anxiety; depression