ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can place an immense psychological strain on the infected patient. The psychological distress can linger after the initial recovery from the infection.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of provisional post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with cured COVID-2019.

Methods: The baseline survey was conducted from 10 to 25 February 2020 in patients with COVID-19 in a designated hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics were acquired, and depression and anxiety levels were assessed, using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, respectively. A follow-up survey was conducted 1 month post-discharge. PTSD symptoms were measured by the Impact of Event Scale-6 (IES-6) and patients’ perception of supportive care during hospitalization was investigated using a self-developed questionnaire.

Results: In total, 114 patients completed both the baseline and follow-up surveys. Of these, 41 (36.0%) met the cut-off score for provisional PTSD diagnosis according to the IES-6. Female gender [odds ratio (OR) = 4.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.54–14.37], educational level of high school or below (OR = 15.49, 95% CI 1.13–212.71), higher anxiety levels (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.12–1.61) and lower perceptions of emotional support during hospitalization (OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.17–0.96) predicted a higher risk for provisional PTSD.

Conclusions: PTSD is commonly seen in patients with COVID-19 1 month post-discharge. Female patients, and patients with lower educational levels, higher anxiety levels and lower perceptions of emotional support during hospitalization may be more likely to develop PTSD in the near future. Enhancing emotional support during hospitalization could help to prevent PTSD in patients with COVID-19.

摘要

背景：2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 会给感染患者带来巨大的心理压力。从感染中恢复过来后，心理困扰可能会持续存在。

目的：本研究旨在评估 COVID-2019 治愈患者中临时性创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 的患病率和预测因素。

方法：于2020年2月10日至25日对定点医院的COVID-19患者进行基线调查。分别使用 9 项患者健康问卷和 7 项广泛性焦虑症量表获取人口统计学和临床​​特征，并评估抑郁和焦虑水平。出院后1个月进行随访调查。PTSD 症状通过事件影响量表 6 (IES-6) 进行测量，并使用自行开发的问卷调查患者对住院期间支持性护理的看法。

结果：总共 114 名患者完成了基线调查和随访调查。其中，41 人 (36.0%) 符合 IES-6 临时 PTSD 诊断的分界线。女性[比值比 (OR) = 4.69，95% 置信区间 (CI) 1.54–14.37]，高中或以下教育水平（OR = 15.49，95% CI 1.13–212.71），焦虑水平较高（OR = 1.34） , 95% CI 1.12–1.61) 和住院期间情感支持较低的认知 (OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.17–0.96) 预测临时 PTSD 的风险较高。

结论：PTSD 常见于出院后 1 个月的 COVID-19 患者。女性患者以及住院期间受教育程度较低、焦虑水平较高、情感支持感知较低的患者在不久的将来可能更有可能患上创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）。在住院期间加强情感支持可能有助于预防 COVID-19 患者的创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD)。