The Effect of COVID-19 on The Mental Health of Infected Patients: Direct and Indirect Effects

Authors

Eric Appiah, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Doctor of Medical Science

Advisor

Dr. Munsell, Debra

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the quality of life and negatively impacted mental health worldwide. While many studies have examined the psychological impact on the general population, fewer have focused on patients who are infected with the disease. This review assesses the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 infection on mental health by synthesizing findings from thirteen scientific journals and four systematic reviews identified through PubMed, Elsevier, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar to substantiate the aim. Evidence showed that individuals with COVID-19 and quarantined patients reported high levels of depression (41.3%, 38.8% respectively), anxiety (42.3%, 57.6% respectively), mental distress (99.6%), and post-traumatic stress symptoms (96.2%), PTSD (32.6%) compared to the general public (8.3%). The literature shows that the acute phase of COVID-19 had a significant impact on the mental health of infected, quarantined, and people suspected of the disease. The review also demonstrated that the post-acute phase of COVID-19 infection has a long-term neuropsychiatric effect on the cognition of individuals, due to neuroinflammation. These findings were significantly affected by factors such as COVID-19 infection, female gender, concern about COVID-19 infection, people with chronic disease, and financial stress. For the infected individuals, the fear of isolation, lack of social support, longer stay in the hospital, stigma, and discrimination were the primary triggers of mental health disorders. In addition, the public health measures put in place to reduce the impact of COVID-19, such as quarantine, closure of schools, and workplaces, proportionally played a key role in mental health disorders. Public health officers, governmental and State institutions should adopt an evidence-based approach to address associated risk and protective factors to identify and prioritize vulnerable groups (female gender, under age 40, history of mental disorders, people with chronic disease) and provide timely financial and residential assistance. Despite an increase in the number of systematic reviews, the findings of this review are qualitative and narrative in nature due to the high heterogeneity across the methodologies employed. Again, most data collection is administered through online surveys and self-administered questionnaires, rather than professionally administered ones. Furthermore, a few studies have mentioned the post-acute impact of COVID-19; therefore, future studies should focus on its long-term effects to aid in preparing for future pandemics.

Recommended Citation

Appiah E. The Effect of COVID-19 on The Mental Health of Infected Patients: Direct and Indirect Effects. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2025; 7(3).