Objective: This study examines how mental health and health behaviors evolved among college students nationwide before and during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Data collected from college students across various campuses in Fall 2019 (N = 33,372) and Fall 2020 (N = 34,168) as part of the Healthy Minds Study. Methods: The online survey was delivered via Qualtrics. Data was analyzed through an unpaired two-samples T-test and a two-proportion Z-test. Results: The results show a significant difference of depression and anxiety symptoms in college students during Fall 2020 compared to Fall 2019. Sleep patterns significantly shifted during the pandemic. Substance use, perceived need for counseling, and the amount of time students spent exercising all significantly differed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: In the context of declines in mental health among college students, college campuses should implement mental health support models addressing students' individual health risk and lifestyle behaviors.

This work is a descriptive cross-sectional study that aimed to assess by means of an online survey the well-being and psychological impact, mainly depression, anxiety, stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), experienced by the general population after the end of lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we used the PCL-S scales to assess PTSD and the DASS scale to assess depression, anxiety, and stress related to end of quarantine. Our study found that following the decontamination related to COVID-19, the psychological impact was not negligible with a significant prevalence of occurrence for several psychological disorders. We found depression (68.8%), anxiety (57.47%), stress (45.50%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (31.5%) in the subjects of our study. Following the decontamination related to COVID-19, the psychological impact was found to be as important or even more serious than the other situations that preceded it. The development of a database allowing us to understand the effect of the decontamination on the mental health of Moroccans could be useful in order to watch and prevent the occurrence of complications for psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress or even a state of post-traumatic stress.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health worldwide, exposing gaps in managing work-related disabilities. In Spain, Mutual Collaborators with Social Security play a pivotal role in managing temporary work disabilities associated with mental health conditions.

This study aimed to describe and analyze the prevalence, characteristics, and economic burden of mental health-related temporary work disabilities in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery (2020-2022).

A prospective longitudinal design was used, drawing on data from CHAMAN, a secure and nationally representative database managed by Asepeyo Mutual Insurance and maintained by Mutual Collaborators with Social Security (MCSSs). The study included workers who experienced temporary work disabilities due to mental health disorders diagnosed according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, during the COVID-19 state of alarm (14 March-21 June 2020) and in the following two years (2021-2022). The key variables were demographics, absence duration, cost per case, and relapse rates. The analyses included descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and logistic regression tests.

In 2020, 5135 cases were recorded, with an aggregate cost of approximately EUR 44.8 million. Regional analysis showed that Catalonia, Castile-La Mancha, and Castile-León accounted for over half the expenditure, whereas costs were lower in other regions. Marked declines in incidence and costs were observed in 2021-2022, suggesting adaptation to post-pandemic conditions. However, significant gender disparities persisted, with women experiencing higher relapse rates and prolonged absences. Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder were the most common diagnoses, particularly in sectors such as retail, elderly care, and call centers.

Although the incidence and cost of temporary work disabilities declined, persistent gender inequalities, regional disparities, and sector-specific risks highlight the need for targeted mental health interventions. Enhancing psychosocial support, adopting gender-sensitive workplace policies, and improving regional healthcare infrastructure are essential to promote workforce well-being and ensure economic sustainability.

Despite an increase in eating disorder (ED) cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are limited longitudinal studies exploring treatment outcomes. The aims of the present study were: (1) to compare the clinical features of patients with EDs whose onset was during the COVID-19 lockdown (pandemic cohort) against patients with EDs whose onset was prior to the pandemic (pre-pandemic cohort) and, (2) to compare therapy responses between the cohorts.

The sample consisted of 115 adult women with an ED. N = 37 new ED cases (pandemic cohort) were diagnosed and included in the study during the pandemic (May 2020-May 2021); these patients did not have any previous history of an ED. We also included N = 78 ED cases (pre-pandemic cohort) diagnosed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic breakout (prior to March 2020). All ED subtypes were considered in both groups and several clinical variables were assessed.

At baseline, pandemic cohort reported lower levels of impulsivity and higher emotional regulation capacities than the pre-pandemic cohort; however, no differences were found in aspects of general psychopathology and ED related severity. Following treatment, the pandemic cohort showed higher rates of good outcome and lower rates of dropouts than the pre-pandemic cohort.

Although both cohorts showed similar ED-related symptoms and general psychopathology scores, treatment outcomes were more favourable in the pandemic cohort.

Background/Objectives: Forensic psychiatric expertise significantly contributes to clinical criminology. Interdisciplinary investigations, evaluation tactics, and the use of criminology indices are essential for psychosocial prognostic assessments of conflict, aggression, adaptability, and recovery. Methods: This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on forensic psychiatric expertise by analyzing demographic variables such as age, gender, background, and other relevant data including criminal records, forensic antecedents, personal pathological antecedents, diagnosis, and discernment. Our study included 186 patients categorized into pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Results: Most participants were male, with no significant rural-urban distribution differences. During the COVID period, common criminal acts included aggression and child pornography, followed by attempted murder. A significant association was found between discernment and psychiatric disorders (p < 0.0011), with 67.6% of the patients lacking discernment having mental illnesses. Legal outcomes varied with discernment; 60.3% of patients without discernment required mandatory hospitalization (p < 0.0011). Conclusions: Medico-legal antecedents were more frequent during the pandemic, and safety measures were more commonly applied to those lacking discernment.

We investigated how patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were affected by coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19)-related stress over the long term compared to healthy individuals. We explored how the pandemic affected changes in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and their contributing factors. The study included 100 patients with OCD and 100 sex-matched healthy controls whose sociodemographic and clinical information were gathered. Participants in the study were recruited between December 2021 and May 2022 from individuals attending to the outpatient clinics of the University Department of Psychiatry. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Perceptions and Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Questionnaire, COVID-19 Compliance with Prevention Measures Scale, and COVID-19 Stress Scale were used in this study. Patients were assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale based on their conditions before and during the pandemic. Patients with OCD perceived COVID-19 disease as more dangerous and contagious (respectively P = .01, P = .01) compared to the controls. Fifty percent of the patients with OCD experienced an increase in symptoms. Disease severity was increased in mild and moderate OCD, while no significant change was found in severe OCD. Perceiving COVID-19 disease as more dangerous (P = .031), COVID-19-related traumatic stress (P = .013), compulsive control (P = .022), xenophobia (P = .005), and COVID-19-related thoughts (P = .008) were more frequent in OCD patients with clinical worsening. In regression analysis, younger age (OR: 0.95, 95% CI (0.91-0.99)) and higher levels of COVID-19-related stress (OR: 1.03 95% CI (1.01-1.05)) are associated with worsening OCD symptoms. Patients with OCD were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Close monitoring of patients with OCD during the pandemic is recommended.

Epidemics and outbreaks present arduous challenges, requiring both individual and communal efforts. The significant medical, emotional, and financial burden associated with epidemics creates feelings of distrust, fear, and loss of control, making vulnerable populations prone to exploitation and manipulation through misinformation, rumors, and conspiracies. The use of social media sites has increased in the last decade. As a result, significant amounts of public data can be leveraged for biosurveillance. Social media sites can also provide a platform to quickly and efficiently reach a sizable percentage of the population; therefore, they have a potential role in various aspects of epidemic mitigation.

This systematic literature review aimed to provide a methodical overview of the integration of social media in 3 epidemic-related contexts: epidemic monitoring, misinformation detection, and the relationship with mental health. The aim is to understand how social media has been used efficiently in these contexts, and which gaps need further research efforts.

Three research questions, related to epidemic monitoring, misinformation, and mental health, were conceptualized for this review. In the first PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) stage, 13,522 publications were collected from several digital libraries (PubMed, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, MDPI, ACM, and ACL) and gray literature sources (arXiv and ProQuest), spanning from 2010 to 2022. A total of 242 (1.79%) papers were selected for inclusion and were synthesized to identify themes, methods, epidemics studied, and social media sites used.

Five main themes were identified in the literature, as follows: epidemic forecasting and surveillance, public opinion understanding, fake news identification and characterization, mental health assessment, and association of social media use with psychological outcomes. Social media data were found to be an efficient tool to gauge public response, monitor discourse, identify misleading and fake news, and estimate the mental health toll of epidemics. Findings uncovered a need for more robust applications of lessons learned from epidemic "postmortem documentation." A vast gap exists between retrospective analysis of epidemic management and result integration in prospective studies.

Harnessing the full potential of social media in epidemic-related tasks requires streamlining the results of epidemic forecasting, public opinion understanding, and misinformation detection, all while keeping abreast of potential mental health implications. Proactive prevention has thus become vital for epidemic curtailment and containment.

Background: The COVID-19 lockdown posed unprecedented psychological challenges worldwide. In Spain, Mutual Collaborators with Social Security manage work-related disabilities, including mental health cases. Objectives: To describe and analyze work-related disabilities with mental health diagnoses during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain from the perspective of a Mutual Collaborator with Social Security in the Spanish healthcare system. Methods: Descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study of a sample of 5135 patients. Descriptive statistics reported mean values and standard deviation by sex and age. Inferential analyses were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U-test and correlation analysis. Results: The study population included 5135 patients managed by a Mutual Collaborator with Social Security during the COVID-19 lockdown, 63.5% of whom were women. Cantabria reported the highest average sick leave duration (62.80 days), while La Rioja had the lowest (39.19 days). Generalized anxiety disorder was the most prevalent diagnosis (69.17%), followed by adaptive disorders and mild depression. Women had a slightly higher prevalence of anxiety, while men showed higher rates of adaptive disorders. Conclusions: The findings underscore the psychological impact of the COVID-19 lockdown, revealing significant sex and regional differences in mental health diagnoses and sick leave duration. Generalized anxiety disorder was the predominant diagnosis, highlighting the need for targeted mental health interventions during crises.

This study analyzed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates among Brazilian residents, stratified by sex. It examined monthly suicide rates using interrupted time series analysis. Researchers compared the months before the pandemic (January 2017 to February 2020) with those after the first diagnosed case of COVID-19 in Brazil (March 2020 to December 2023). They applied an interrupted time series model (quasi-Poisson) to account for serial autocorrelation in the residuals and seasonality. During this period, authorities reported 102,081 suicides in Brazil. The age-standardized annual suicide rate among men was 3.71 times higher than the rate among women (12.33 suicides per 100,000 vs. 3.32 suicides per 100,000 women). The South and Midwest regions had the highest standardized annual average suicide rates. Suicide rates among men dropped abruptly at the pandemic's onset (RR < 1, p < 0.05). However, Black men, women aged 15 to 19 years, and elderly individuals exhibited a significant increase (RR > 1, p < 0.05). Over time, suicide rates rose across most age groups, regions, and methods studied (RR > 1, p < 0.05). The pandemic's impact differed significantly between men and women based on stratification variables. Nonetheless, a progressive upward trend emerged throughout the pandemic.

(1) Background: Validated instruments to measure mental health variables related to sanitary crises can provide data for prevention or intervention plans. The objectives of this study were: (1) to evidence the psychometric factorial internal structure of the Battery for Assessing Mental Health-Pandemic Version (BASM-P) in the sample; (2) to investigate the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian post-peak period among individuals with and without pre-existing psychiatric conditions using the BASM-P; and (3) to analyze relationships between the mental health variables measured by the BASM-P in both groups. (2) Methods: This is an internet-based quantitative, cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic convenience sample. The participants (n = 209) were divided into a non-psychiatric group (n = 168) and a psychiatric group (n = 41). The instruments were the BASM-P and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were collected throughout the second semester of 2022 and analyzed with JASP software. (3) Results: The BASM-P demonstrated robust psychometric factorial internal structure. Significant differences were observed between the two groups across all variables. In the non-psychiatric group, obsessive thoughts presented strong connections to fear, distress, and grief from job loss. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights the central role of obsessive thoughts in shaping the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Brazilian post-peak period.

Wound healing is a physiological process occurring after the onset of a skin lesion aiming to reconstruct the dermal barrier between the external environment and the body. Depending on the nature and duration of the healing process, wounds are classified as acute (e.g., trauma, surgical wounds) and chronic (e.g., diabetic ulcers) wounds. The latter, often affect millions of people globally, take months to heal or not heal non-healing chronic wounds, are typically susceptible to microbial infection, and are a major cause of morbidity. Wounds can be treated with a variety of non-surgical (topical formulations, wound dressings) and surgical (debridement, skin grafts/flaps) methods. Three-dimensional (3D)-(bio) printing and traditional wound dressings are two examples of modern experimental techniques. This review focuses on several types of anti-inflammatory wound dressings, especially focusing on hydrogels and traditional macro-fungi like L. rhinocerotis as agents that promote wound healing. In this study, we introduced novel anti-inflammatory hydrogel dressings and offered innovative methods for application and preparation to aid in the healing. Additionally, we summarize the key elements required for wound healing and discuss our analysis of potential future issues. These findings suggest that L. rhinocerotis and various anti-inflammatory hydrogels can be considered as conventional and alternative macro-fungi for the treatment of non-communicable diseases. We summarized the development of functional hydrogel dressings and traditional Lignosus rhinoceros used for wound healing agents in recent years, as well as the current situation and future trends, in light of their preparation mechanisms and functional effects.

This study mainly focused on the long-term effect of different risk exposure levels and prior anti-epidemic experience of healthcare workers in mitigating COVID-19 on their work stress in the post-COVID era.

The study sample included 359 physicians, 619 nurses, 229 technicians and 212 administrators, for a total of 1,419 healthcare workers working in the Lanzhou area during the investigation. Data were analyzed by multivariate regression models.

Our findings indicated that the interaction between pandemic effect mitigation experience and high-risk exposure significantly affected healthcare workers in the post-COVID era by increasing their work stress (p < 0.001) and reducing their rest time (p < 0.001). Healthcare workers may have experienced worse outcomes in the long term if they had higher levels of risk exposure and more experience in fighting epidemics. Furthermore, poor mental health (p < 0.001) and prior experience with SARS (p < 0.001) further amplified these adverse effects. However, surprisingly, we did not observe any effect of prior anti-epidemic experience or high-risk exposure on the mental health of healthcare workers in the post-COVID era (p > 0.1).

The adverse impact of COVID-19 may have left long-lasting effects on Health professionals (HPs), particularly those with high Risk exposure (RE) and more mitigation experience. Poor Mental health (MH) and previous experience in mitigating previous similar outbreaks (such as SARS) are risk factors that should be considered. Support programs must be designed and promoted to help HPs respond and improve their performance.

Our study presents compelling evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic will have long-term detrimental effects on the work stress of healthcare workers.

The enduring psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect individuals long after the immediate health concerns have subsided. This research aims to identify specific groups within the Romanian population who are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health challenges that can interfere with everyday life and may lead to more serious mental health disorders.

Conducted as a cross-sectional survey, this study assessed the severity of psychological distress using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire in relation to COVID-19-related information and socio-demographic data to investigate the factors associated with psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania.

Analysis of 521 questionnaires, filled out by a predominantly middle-aged cohort of 320 women and 201 men (mean age = 42.24, SD = 11.96), revealed that 63.72% of participants worked outside the healthcare field. Those unemployed or retired reported significantly higher anxiety levels than individuals in other sectors. Moreover, living alone, experiencing the loss of close relatives (6.14%) or friends (33.59%), and undergoing hospitalization or reinfection due to COVID-19 were linked to significantly elevated distress scores.

By identifying the segments of the population most vulnerable to psychological distress, as evidenced by higher scores among the unemployed, retirees, individuals living alone, and those directly affected by COVID-19 through personal health or loss, targeted initiatives for psychological screening and therapy can be established. Such measures are essential for enhancing the post-pandemic mental well-being of Romanians, addressing the specific needs uncovered in this study. These findings are limited by the study type and sample size; therefore, more extensive, longitudinal research conducted on a larger population sample is necessary.

This study investigates the influence of COVID-19 on the mental health of Chinese college students and evaluates the current status of mental health literacy (MHL) education. With mental health issues among students becoming increasingly prominent due to the pandemic and rapid social changes, enhancing MHL is critical. The research highlights the necessity of integrating mental health education with MHL to foster resilience and effective coping strategies. It proposes a model combining online and offline education to maximize accessibility and engagement. By examining both domestic and international perspectives, the study underscores the importance of comprehensive mental health education reform in the post-pandemic era. This integrated approach aims to improve students' mental well-being, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behaviors, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more supportive campus environment.

We sought to gain an understanding of the patient experience during their hospital stay for COVID-19, and the impact of COVID-19 on quality of life post discharge.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include a persistent cough, dyspnoea and fatigue. Individuals with comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and approximately 20% of those diagnosed with COVID-19 are admitted to hospital. Following discharge from hospital, 40% of patients report a worsened quality of life and up to 87% of those discharged from hospital have experienced 'long COVID'.

A qualitative design was used to understand patient experience of hospitalisation following a diagnosis of COVID-19, and their experiences following discharge from hospital.

Ten patients with a previous diagnosis of COVID-19 took part in semi-structured interviews regarding their experiences of hospitalisation and the impact on quality of life post-discharge.

The results identified three key themes from the interviews: communication and the inpatient experience, symptoms following discharge and regaining independence. Patients discussed their experience of hospitalisation and how this continued to impact their emotional well-being post-discharge. However, patients appeared to push themselves physically to improve their health, despite continued COVID-19 symptoms.

Patients hospitalised following a diagnosis of COVID-19 experienced psychological distress during their hospital stay, as well as 3-months post-discharge. We suggest the use of psychosocial interventions to support patients post-discharge.

The results of this study provide a greater understanding of the patient experience during their hospital stay, which can support nursing staff practice. Additionally, the study provides in depth knowledge of personal experiences of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and the impact following hospital discharge.

Patient's took part in semi-structured interviews via telephone to support the aims and objectives of this study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked or amplified many mental health problems. The aim of this study was to compile evidence from existing systematic reviews to provide an overall assessment of the impact of social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on people affected by eating disorders (EDs). PubMed and Scopus were searched up to August 16, 2023. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were selected using the PRISMA 2020 statement. The quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. Eleven studies were included in this umbrella review. Six main categories emerged from the studies described in the review: dietary changes and psychopathological effects showed an overall worsening of symptomatology; in studies concerning the impact of isolation and restrictive measures, it was found that social distancing was associated with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression; limited access to direct care was found and therapeutic changes were made; the influence of mass media negatively impacted people with ED; several studies reported positive findings regarding symptomatology; finally, studies regarding 'impact on vulnerable populations showed that vulnerable people are more at risk of reporting body image distortion and eating disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted most of the population with ED leading to a worsening of specific symptomatology. In addition, this worsening of the condition may be caused by limited access to care and treatment, changes in routine, or to the negative influence of the media.

The mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic has attracted the attention of researchers. For the present study researchers constructed a mediation model to explore the relationship between psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth, the mediating role of negative emotions and the moderating role of deliberate rumination in students.

The Psychological Resilience Scale, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Event Related Rumination Inventory were used in a survey of 881 college students. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and the PROCESS plugin (version 3.3).

(1) Psychological resilience is positively related with post-traumatic growth. Deliberate rumination is positively related to psychological resilience, posttraumatic growth, and negative emotions. Psychological resilience, post-traumatic growth and negative emotions are negatively related. (2) Negative emotions mediated the relationship between psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth. (3) Deliberate rumination plays a moderating role in psychological resilience affecting negative emotions. Deliberate rumination plays a moderating role in the extent to which psychological resilience influences PTG through negative emotions.

Psychological resilience affects post-traumatic growth directly and also indirectly through negative emotions. With the increase of mental resilience, the level of negative emotion tended to decrease. When individuals are experiencing negative emotions, high levels of active rumination are more likely to promote post-traumatic growth. This study helps to explore the factors affecting the mental health of college students during the epidemic, thus providing guidance for appropriate mental health interventions.

To effectively diagnose and treat subjective cognitive symptoms in post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC), it is important to understand objective cognitive impairment across the range of acute COVID-19 severity. Despite the importance of this area of research, to our knowledge, there are no current meta-analyses of objective cognitive functioning following non-severe initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this meta-analysis is to describe objective cognitive impairment in individuals with non-severe (mild or moderate) SARS-CoV-2 cases in the post-acute stage of infection. This meta-analysis was pre-registered with Prospero (CRD42021293124) and utilized the PRISMA checklist for reporting guidelines, with screening conducted by at least two independent reviewers for all aspects of the screening and data extraction process. Fifty-nine articles (total participants = 22,060) with three types of study designs met our full criteria. Individuals with non-severe (mild/moderate) initial SARS-CoV-2 infection demonstrated worse objective cognitive performance compared to healthy comparison participants. However, those with mild (nonhospitalized) initial SARS-CoV-2 infections had better objective cognitive performance than those with moderate (hospitalized but not requiring ICU care) or severe (hospitalized with ICU care) initial SARS-CoV-2 infections. For studies that used normative data comparisons instead of healthy comparison participants, there was a small and nearly significant effect when compared to normative data. There were high levels of heterogeneity (88.6 to 97.3%), likely reflecting small sample sizes and variations in primary study methodology. Individuals who have recovered from non-severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections may be at risk for cognitive decline or impairment and may benefit from cognitive health interventions.

COVID-19 has immensely affected the mental health of all people with prominent effects among the COVID-19 survivors who underwent hospitalisation. The evidence of the long-term mental health implications among the recovered COVID-19 patients remains unknown in Nepal. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety and the associated factors among COVID-19 recovered patients.

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from May to August 2021 among 269 COVID-19 recovered patients admitted to Dhulikhel Hospital during the first wave (July 2020 to January 2021), and second wave (April 2021 to July 2021) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety and depression of the participants were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with anxiety and depression.

The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 38.66% (95% CI 32.99 to 44.65), and 30.48% (95% CI 25.24 to 36.28), respectively. Participants who received COVID-19 related information from the radio reported higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. Similarly, stigma, and being a health worker were significantly associated with a higher level of anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. However, social support and long recovery duration were protective factors against anxiety and depression symptoms. Participants receiving a higher level of social support and having a recovery duration of 3-6 months, 7 months and more reported lower odds of anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively.

The greater prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among recovered COVID-19 patients highlights the need to design and implement appropriate mental health interventions. This could be done through psychosocial support and counselling services in health facilities, mental health service in emergency situation and post-discharge rehabilitation programmes.

This protocol describes a forthcoming systematic review of the question: 'What are the long-term effects of historical influenza pandemics on mental health, resulting either from illness itself or the social or economic effects of pandemics and public health responses?'

We will review studies that investigate associations between influenza pandemics and long-term mental-health impacts. Following the PICO framework, populations (P) may include those with and without pre-existing mental-health symptoms or conditions. Intervention (I) is exposure to an influenza pandemic during the study period encompassing five pandemics (1889-2009). Comparators or controls (C) are not applicable. The review will address outcomes (O) of mental-health morbidity from direct infection and/or related circumstances, including, for example, receiving a disability pension, institutionalisation and/or death.

Due to societal disruptions, illness and bereavement during pandemics, many people are likely to be affected in myriad ways. Therefore, investigation into mental-health consequences should not be restricted by risk group or diagnosis. To our knowledge, this protocol and forthcoming systematic review are the first to include studies for broad populations and multiple measures of mental-health morbidity. The historical perspective and comparison of pandemics with varying severity but assumed similar causative pathogens also enable insights into the consistency of long-term consequences across pandemics.

Pandemics likely produce long-term mental-health impacts with relevance for social, health and economic planning. The systematic review based on this protocol will complement other evidence on pandemic impacts and help policymakers incorporate relevant interventions.

This study explores the longitudinal psychosocial impact of Long-COVID syndrome, also known as Post-COVID-19 syndrome, characterized by enduring symptoms after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection, over the years 2020, 2021, and 2022. It aimed to examine the variations in depression, anxiety, and quality of life among Post-COVID-19 patients during these years, hypothesizing significant inter-year differences reflecting the pandemic's evolving influence.

Conducted at Victor Babes Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, Romania, this cross-sectional research involved 324 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19, assessed six months post-hospitalization. Standardized instruments, namely Short Form (SF-36) for quality of life, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) for anxiety, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression, were utilized.

The study observed a consistent average patient age of around 55 years across the years. A notable increase in COVID-19 vaccination rates was recorded, rising from 20.9% in 2020 to over 70% in 2022 (p<0.001). Trends in key post-COVID symptoms like fatigue and cognitive issues varied over the years. Importantly, there was a consistent decrease in feelings of sadness or depression, with scores declining from 7.3 in 2020 to 4.8 in 2022 (p<0.001). The SF-36 survey indicated a steady improvement in overall health, reaching 55.8±7.1 in 2022 (p=0.035). Both GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression over the years, with p-values of 0.030 and 0.031, respectively. Factors such as smoking status, substance use, and the initial severity of COVID-19 infection were significantly associated with depression levels.

The findings suggest that despite persistent physical symptoms, Long-COVID patients experienced enhancements in mental well-being and quality of life over the studied period. The increasing vaccination rates might have contributed to this improvement. Addressing modifiable risk factors like smoking and substance use could further optimize post-COVID care and mental health outcomes.

The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased, particularly among individuals who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Health literacy is considered a "social vaccine" that helps people respond effectively to the pandemic. We aimed to investigate the association between long COVID-19 and PTSD, and to examine the modifying role of health literacy in this association.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at 18 hospitals and health centers in Vietnam from December 2021 to October 2022. We recruited 4,463 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 infection for at least 4 weeks. Participants provided information about their sociodemographics, clinical parameters, health-related behaviors, health literacy (using the 12-item short-form health literacy scale), long COVID-19 symptoms and PTSD (Impact Event Scale-Revised score of 33 or higher). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations and interactions.

Out of the study sample, 55.9% had long COVID-19 symptoms, and 49.6% had PTSD. Individuals with long COVID-19 symptoms had a higher likelihood of PTSD (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63-2.12; p<0.001). Higher health literacy was associated with a lower likelihood of PTSD (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99; p=0.001). Compared to those without long COVID-19 symptoms and the lowest health literacy score, those with long COVID-19 symptoms and a 1-point health literacy increment had a 3% lower likelihood of PTSD (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99; p=0.001).

Health literacy was found to be a protective factor against PTSD and modified the negative impact of long COVID-19 symptoms on PTSD.

Anxiety and depression are prevalent mental disorders around the world. The etiology of both diseases is multifactorial, involving biological and psychological issues. The COVID-19 pandemic settled in 2020 and culminated in several changes in the routine of individuals around the world, affecting mental health. People infected with COVID-19 are at greater risk of developing anxiety and depression, and individuals previously affected by these disorders have worsened the condition. In addition, individuals diagnosed with anxiety or depression before being affected by COVID-19 developed the severe illness at higher rates than individuals without mental disorders. This harmful cycle involves several mechanisms, including systemic hyper-inflammation and neuroinflammation. Furthermore, the context of the pandemic and some previous psychosocial factors can aggravate or trigger anxiety and depression. Disorders are also risks for a more severe picture of COVID-19. This review discusses research on a scientific basis, which brings evidence on biopsychosocial factors from COVID-19 and the context of the pandemic involved in anxiety and depression disorders.

Because of COVID-19, higher education changed as institutions went remote and students' mental health was challenged. Rural universities were disproportionately affected because of limited Internet access. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological need satisfaction/frustration and mental health among rural college students during this pandemic.

Six hundred ninety-eight students (Mage = 22.15 ± 2.55) at a rural South-eastern university were recruited.

Participants completed a survey examining stress, anxiety, need satisfaction/frustration and previous experience with online courses.

Anxiety, autonomy and competence frustration were found to predict 60% of the variance of stress. Another regression analysis found stress, autonomy, competence, and relatedness frustration to predict 70% of the anxiety variance.

Students are frustrated due to the lack of control and restrictions affecting their social interaction. Understanding the relationship between need satisfaction/frustration and mental health can aid university administration in developing interventions that address rural students' needs.

The Argentinean quarantine is among the strictest and longest quarantines in the world. To determine if a worsening pattern on mental health would emerge with a prolonged quarantine duration, a longitudinal analysis pertaining to the lengthy mandatory Argentinean quarantine was conducted.

To examine depression and anxiety changes in college students, as a function of quarantine duration, demographic and health-related factors, during successive time cuts of the lengthy mandatory quarantine in Argentina.

We used a longitudinal design, N = 1492 college students. For the first measurement, successive samplings were carried out across quarantine sub-periods of up to 106-days duration. The follow-up was one month later.

Particularly women, young, and having a history of mental disorder and suicidal behavior, were more depressed and anxious under mandatory restrictive quarantine conditions. Repeated measures of both depression and anxiety scores remained constantly high during the more restrictive quarantine sub-periods of up to 13 and 53-days duration, and decreased during the less restrictive quarantine sub-period of up to 106-days duration, but with small effect sizes (0.10-0.08).

Restrictive quarantine has negative effects on mental health outcomes. Partial spontaneous remissions of depression and anxiety symptoms may be expected with further quarantine relaxations.

Social phobia (SP) refers to excessive anxiety about social interactions. College students, with their exposure to academic, familial, and job-related pressures, are an ideal population for early screening and intervention of social phobia. Additionally, COVID-19 prevention measures including keeping social distance may further impact social phobia. This study aims to investigate the influencing factors of social phobia among Chinese college students and to tentatively explore the impact of COVID-19 prevention measures on social phobia. Respondents were recruited through Chinese Internet social platforms for an online survey. College students' social phobia scores in pre- and early-COVID-19 periods were measured using Peters' short form of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and Social Phobia Scale (SIAS-6/SPS-6). Demographic information, family information, social relations, self-evaluation, and subjective feelings regarding the impact of COVID-19 preventive measures on social phobia were collected. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors. A total of 1859 valid questionnaires were collected, revealing that the social phobia scores increased from 12.3 ± 11.9 to 13.4 ± 11.9 between pre- and early-COVID-19 periods, with an increase of 1.0 ± 6.4 (p < 0.001). Low GPA rank, mobile phone dependence, distant family relationships, indulgent parents, childhood adversity, and childhood bullying were risk factors for social phobia among Chinese college students. Female gender, being a senior university student or postgraduate, satisfaction with physical appearance, self-reported good mental health and high level of interpersonal trust were protective factors for social phobia. Although most respondents believed that COVID-19 prevention measures (e.g., mask wearing and social distancing rules) reduced their social phobia, these measures were not significantly associated with social phobia levels in the multivariable analyses. In conclusion, Chinese college students' social phobia was widely influenced by diverse factors and warrants increased attention, with early intervention aimed at high-risk individuals being crucial for their mental health. Additional research is necessary to understand the impact of COVID-19 preventive measures on social phobia among college students.

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses in first world societies, generating discomfort in the people who suffer from it, and high expenses and economic losses in the society. The physical activity (PA) performed, together with the perceived social support (PSS) by people with anxiety could be related to the psychological distress of people with anxiety.

To study the relationships between mental health and its dimensions, through Golberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12), and the level of PA (PAL) and the PSS in the Spanish adult population with anxiety.

A higher PAL, and a higher PSS, is related to a lower psychological distress in this population.

This study included 1,661 adults with anxiety, residents in Spain. It was a cross-sectional study with data obtained from the Spanish National Health Survey. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to examine the data distribution of the variables. The median and interquartile range were used to characterize the sample for continuous variables, and absolute and relative frequencies were used for categorical variables. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine the differences between sexes. Dependence between PAL and sex was studied using the chi-square statistic. A Krustal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the existence of differences in the baseline medians on the GHQ-12, according to PAL level. Finally, the correlations between mental health and its dimensions with PAL and the Duke-UNC-11 scores were analysed, obtaining Spearman's rho and Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Moderate inverse correlations were found between the GHQ-12 and: PAL (rho: -0.219); PSS (r: -0.347). PAL and PSS presented moderate inverse correlations with successful coping (rho: -0.206 and r: -0.325), self-esteem (rho: -0.222 and r: -0.333) and stress (rho: -0.158 and r: -0.288).

Greater PAL and social support are associated with reduced psychological distress in people with anxiety.

In early 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak occurred in Hubei Province of China. Exploiting the geographic concentration of China's COVID-19 cases in Hubei (the initial epicenter), we compare Hubei and non-Hubei residents to examine the medium-term effect of exposure to the COVID-19 outbreak on mental well-being. We examine flourishing-a comprehensive assessment of well-being that is not merely the absence of mental illness-and investigate a broad set of psychosocial and economic mediators that may link initial outbreak exposure to subsequent flourishing. We use ordinary least squares regression models to analyze national panel data collected in early 2020 and late 2021 (N = 3,169). Results show that flourishing scores remain lower for Hubei than non-Hubei residents almost two years following the early 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. Mediation analysis reveals that Hubei residents' lower incidences of job promotion and lower sense of control are the two most important mediators accounting for their lower flourishing relative to non-Hubei residents. Combined, this study provides the first evidence of the medium-term psychological vulnerability borne by individuals who lived in the initial epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings on the intervening mechanisms shed light on the policy initiatives needed for post-pandemic mental well-being recovery in China and other countries.

This study aims to assess the correlation between the patient-reported mental health and the self-reported outcome measures (PROMs) physical function, pain, and disability at different time points following disc replacement (CDR).

A single-surgeon registry was searched for patients who had undergone CDR, excluding those with indication for infection, cancer, or trauma. One hundred fifty-one patients were included. PROMs were collected preoperatively as well as 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Mental health measures evaluated included 12-Item Short Form (SF-12), Mental Component Score (MCS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) which were individually assessed via Pearson's correlation tests in relation to Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), SF-12 Physical Component Score (PCS), visual analog scale (VAS) neck and arm pain, and Neck Disability Index (NDI).

SF-12 MCS positively correlated with PROMIS-PF (range: r = 0.369-0.614) and SF-12 PCS (range: r = 0.208-0.585) with significance found at two or more time points for each (p ≤ 0.009, all). SF-12 MCS negatively correlated with VAS neck (range: r = - 0.259 to - 0.464), VAS arm (range: r = - 0.281 to - 0.567), and NDI (range: r = - 0.474 to - 831) with significance found at three or more time points (p ≤ 0.028, all). PHQ-9 significantly negatively correlated with PROMIS-PF (range: r = - 0.457 to - 0.732) and SF-12 PCS (range: r = - 0.332 to - 0.629) at all time points (p ≤ 0.013, all). PHQ-9 positively correlated with VAS neck (range: r = 0.351-0.711), VAS arm (range: r = 0.239-0.572), and NDI (range: r = 0.602-0.837) at four or more periods (p ≤ 0.032, all).

Patients undergoing CDR who reported lower mental health scores via either SF-12 MCS or PHQ-9 were associated with increased perception of pain and disability. Disability level correlated with mental health at all time periods. Patients with optimized mental health may report higher outcome scores following CDR.

The COVID-19 period was characterized as a traumatic period throughout the world. During the pandemic, sports organizations had to adapt to government rules and social distancing measures frequently and faced a challenging and complex period in keeping their athletes on a normal routine. Many athletes faced uncertainty regarding their present and future competitive context and personal worries, similar to society during the pandemic. Consequently, adverse effects on the mental health and well-being of athletes were reported in individual and team sports. This review seeks to explore the perceived impact of COVID-19 on athletes' well-being and future considerations. This review suggests professional athletes' well-being should receive more attention and will be addressed in the future for the benefit of the athletes and not just in favor of performance. Moreover, the emphasis on evidence-based psychological support such as stress management and athletes' well-being in a high-performance sport context should increase. The post-COVID-19 period highlights the importance of broadening athletic identity into a more holistic scope that includes life-performance balance and personal values outside the sporting context. Lastly, developing and fostering resilience is complex yet fundamental for systems, when considering athletes' personal context and providing them with professional skills outside of their professional domain.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide, and while the mortality rate remains the primary concern, it is becoming increasingly apparent that many COVID-19 survivors experience long-term sequelae, representing a major concern for both themselves and healthcare providers. Comparing long-term sequelae following COVID-19 to those of other respiratory viruses such as influenza, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-1 is an essential step toward understanding the extent and impact of these sequelae. A literature search was carried out using the PubMed. database. Search-terms included "persistent", "long-term", "chronic", and MeSH-terms for SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV and Influenza. Only English-language articles were selected. Articles were screened by title/abstract and full-text readings. Key points for comparison were persistent symptoms > 4 weeks, virus type, study design, population size, admission status, methods, and findings. Thirty-one articles were included: 19 on SARS-CoV-1, 10 on influenza, and 2 on MERS-CoV-survivors. Damage to the respiratory system was the main long-term manifestation after the acute phase of infection. Quality of life-related and psychological sequelae were the second and third most widely reported symptoms, respectively. Consistent with long-term sequelae from COVID-19, persisting cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal impairments were also reported. In summary, the long-term sequelae following COVID-19 are a significant concern, and while long-term sequelae following influenza, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-1 have also been reported, their prevalence and severity are less clear. It is essential to continue to study and monitor the long-term effects of all respiratory viruses so as to improve our understanding and develop strategies for prevention and treatment.

Coronavirus disease, one of the most disastrous epidemics, has caused a worldwide crisis, and the containment measures applied to decelerate the progression of the pandemic can increase the risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Identifying vulnerable groups in this area can lead us to better resource expenditure, and therefore, this systematic review aims to make a comparison between males and females to determine which of the two groups was most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic regarding OCD. Also, a meta-analysis was designed to investigate the prevalence of OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive search was conducted among three databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science) until August 2021 which resulted in 197 articles, and 24 articles met our inclusion criteria. Overall, more than half of the articles stated the role of gender in OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several articles emphasized the role of the female gender, and some others the role of the male gender. The meta-analysis revealed a 41.2% overall prevalence of OCD during the COVID pandemic and 47.1% and 39.1% OCD prevalence for female and male genders respectively. However, the difference between the two genders was not statistically significant. Generally, it seems that females are at greater risk of OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the following groups, the female gender may have acted as a risk factor: under-18 years students, hospital staff, and the studies in the Middle East. In none of the categories, male gender was clearly identified as a risk factor.

To identify and classify the transitional and aftercare needs of persons hospitalised with and recovering from COVID-19.

Several studies exist that describe the patient needs at the acute phase of COVID-19. The transitional and aftercare needs that emerge during recovery, however, remain vague.

A scoping review was conducted and reported according to the PRISMA extension guidelines for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Primary studies were identified from database search. Narrative synthesis was undertaken, with the Omaha System as a framework.

Forty studies were included. Persons recovering from the infection may have several needs in all domains of the Omaha System. Although the severity and persistence of the needs may be unrelated to the severity of the initial infection, they may vary based on factors such as age and pre-morbid factors.

Recovering from COVID-19 is associated with varied biopsychosocial-environmental needs which can adversely affect the quality-of-life experience. The review findings represent an inventory of needs that can guide the development of multi-disciplinary post-acute or aftercare programmes.

Recovering from COVID-19 can be a protracted process requiring ongoing professional support after discharge. Policies are required to support the development and implementation of post-acute programmes of care. Comprehensive transitional and aftercare rehabilitative programmes are needed to support the recovery process.

Psychological distress is common in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and is anticipated in those who were treated for severe COVID-19 infection. This trainee-led, multicentre, observational, longitudinal study aims to assess the psychological outcomes of ICU survivors treated for COVID-19 infection in the UK at 3, 6 and/or 12 months after ICU discharge and explore whether there are demographic, psychosocial and clinical risk factors for psychological distress.

Questionnaires will be provided to study participants 3, 6 and/or 12 months after discharge from intensive care, assessing for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, health-related quality of life and physical symptoms. Demographic, psychosocial and clinical data will also be collected to explore risk factors for psychological distress using latent growth curve modelling. Study participants will be eligible to complete questionnaires at any of the three time points online, by telephone or by post.

The PIM-COVID study was approved by the Health Research Authority (East Midlands - Derby Research and Ethics Committee, reference: 20/EM/0247).

NCT05092529.

This study aimed to conduct a 2-year follow-up of mental disorders in healthcare workers (HCWs) in a region of China outside the epidemic's core zone who happened to be directly or possibly exposed to persons with COVID-19.

A cognitive analysis scale was utilized in the evaluation the mental or emotional state of HCWs at Xuzhou Medical University's affiliated hospital in the city of Xuzhou, China (a non-core epidemic area) 2 years after the first assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 165 HCWs were selected as the study subjects. In accordance to the exposure risk of COVID-19 patients, the subjects were separated into 2 categories: a group with a high risk HCW (HHCW) (HCWs working in COVID-19-positive wards; N = 91) and a group with a minimal risk HCW (LHCW) (HCWs who worked in wards without COVID-19 patients at the same hospital; N = 75). The clinical as well as demographic information of every HCWs were collected.

The demographic data revealed significant differences in terms of occupation, remuneration, and selfless concerns amidst both categories (p < 0.05). There lacked a statistically notable difference in the occurrence of PTSD between the 2 groups. Data was analyzed for factors associated with PTSD, and the results showed that psychological resilience, job risk, and stress in the workplace were risk factors for PTSD. Additionally, the results of the logistic regression analysis showed that psychological resilience was a significant shared risk factor for PTSD in HCWs after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2-year follow-up showed no statistical difference in the incidence of PTSD between the HHCW group and the LHCW group. Workplace stress, occupational hazards, and psychological resilience were the major contributing risk factors for PTSD in HCWs. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):324-32.

Considerable literature has examined the COVID-19 pandemic's negative mental health sequelae. It is recognised that most people experiencing mental health problems present to primary care and the development of interventions to support GPs in the care of patients with mental health problems is a priority. This review examines interventions to enhance GP care of mental health disorders, with a view to reviewing how mental health needs might be addressed in the post-COVID-19 era.

Five electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and WHO 'Global Research on COVID-19') were searched from May - July 2021 for papers published in English following Arksey and O'Malley's six-stage scoping review process.

The initial search identified 148 articles and a total of 29 were included in the review. These studies adopted a range of methodologies, most commonly randomised control trials, qualitative interviews and surveys. Results from included studies were divided into themes: Interventions to improve identification of mental health disorders, Interventions to support GPs, Therapeutic interventions, Telemedicine Interventions and Barriers and Facilitators to Intervention Implementation. Outcome measures reported included the Seven-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the 'The Patient Global Impression of Change Scale'.

With increasing recognition of the mental health sequelae of COVID-19, there is a lack of large scale trials researching the acceptability or effectiveness of general practice interventions. Furthermore there is a lack of research regarding possible biological interventions (psychiatric medications) for mental health problems arising from the pandemic.

The 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus outbreak in Korea led to profound emotional and social burdens, especially in patients and health care professionals.

Focus group interviews were conducted with 2 patients, 1 family member and 6 health care professionals about psychological distress related to MERS in 2017 and analyzed the interview data using the consensual qualitative research method.

Four domains and 17 core ideas were identified within three interview groups, including psychological distress during the outbreak, problems regarding the response to the outbreak, positive experiences, and future directions for enhancing intervention to improve mental health and prevent psychosocial problems during the outbreak. Psychological consequences were affected by the characteristics of the emerging infectious disease and the structure and process of institutional or governmental response to the MERS outbreak. Mental health services and psychosocial support reduced the negative impact on psychological distress.

The MERS outbreak in 2015 gave rise to emotional and social injuries to patients and health care professionals, some of which can be long-lasting constraints in their lives. Preparedness in a society's response to a pandemic considering mental health in related parties can minimize negative psychological consequences and enhance resilience at the individual and society levels.

Several studies have reported an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the prevalence of significant depressive symptoms and its associated factors in younger adults remain uncertain. We aimed to investigate this association during the COVID-19 pandemic and make a comparison with the pre-pandemic period.

Cross-sectional data from the 2018 and 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed, and 3281 respondents aged 19-40 years were included. We defined a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥ 10 as significant depressive symptoms and the categories of depressive symptoms were also classified as none, mild, moderate, and severe.

The prevalence of significant depressive symptoms was higher in the pandemic group (7.4% vs. 4.7%). Furthermore, the prevalence in the pandemic group was higher for all degrees: mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms. A multivariable logistic regression indicated that significant depressive symptoms during the pandemic was significantly associated with female sex, low educational attainment, unemployment, chronic medical disease, and being overweight.

Our findings suggest an increase in depressive symptoms in younger adults during the pandemic. It is necessary to develop policies to provide younger adults with resources to cope with depressive symptoms related to COVID-19 and potential global outbreak of infectious disease.

Investigate the proportion of mental health outcomes (MHOs) and associated factors in COVID-19 survivors during a 24-month follow-up period.

An observational, prospective study was performed in a teaching hospital in Barranquilla, Colombia, from April 1, 2020, to August 30, 2022. A cohort of 1565 COVID-19 survivors was recruited after discharge from the emergency room (ER), inpatient floor (IF), and intensive care unit (ICU) services and followed for 24 -months. The clinical assessment included screening scales for symptoms of anxiety, depressive, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and insomnia. Sociodemographic and clinical factors were also collected to identify possible associated factors. Descriptive, bivariate and mixed random-effect linear models were performed.

A total of 1565 patients were included, of whom 785 (50.35%) were men. A large proportion of patients with mental symptoms were identified. After 24-months, the proportions of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and insomnia symptoms remained high at 16.55%, 21.79%, 35.27%, and 23.86%, respectively. Social factors, location of hospital stays, physical comorbidities, and the severity of COVID-19 were significantly associated with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and insomnia symptoms.

COVID-19's 2-year deleterious impacts on mental health, as well as the variables influencing these findings, have been documented. These results should aid in the development of public health initiatives to reduce morbidity rates in post-COVID-19 patients.