Covid survivors are up to 40% more likely to go on to suffer depression and anxiety
By Lokmat English Desk | Updated: February 20, 2022 18:33 IST2022-02-20T18:33:48+5:302022-02-20T18:33:48+5:30
Next 
Covid survivors are at increased risk of suffering depression, sleep problems and drug misuse, a major US study has found.
A growing body of research has linked beating the virus to health problems months down the line such as fatigue and brain fog.
But now a study of 150,000 people has linked the infection with much more severe mental health problems.
Researchers found Covid survivors were 40 per cent more likely to be depressed or struggle sleeping, and 20 per cent more likely to abuse substances within a year of catching Covid.
They also had a slightly higher risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal thoughts and panic attacks.
And the more severe their infection was, the more likely they were to report a mental health issue, which suggests Covid may be playing a role.
The paper — published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) — was observational and could not establish a cause. But depression and anxiety are already linked to 'long Covid', an umbrella term that covers a range of ailments people experience after an infection.
Evidence is already mounting that Covid damages blood vessels, including ones in the brain, which could explain the lingering symptoms.
Researchers from St Louis University looked at 150,000 military veterans who were mostly male, in their 60s and tested positive up to January 2021. Participants were tracked for a year.
They were compared to a group of 5.6million veterans who had not caught the virus by this date.
There were roughly 15 extra cases of depression per 1,000 people among the Covid survivors group.
Suicidal thoughts were around 46 per cent more common among those who caught the virus, with about two extra cases per 1,000 people.
They were also more likely to suffer sleeping problems, with 24 extra cases per 1,000 people.