Acute and longer-term psychological distress associated with testing positive for COVID-19: longitudinal evidence from a population-based study of US adults.

Daly, Michael and Robinson, Eric ORCID: 0000-0003-3586-5533 (2021) Acute and longer-term psychological distress associated with testing positive for COVID-19: longitudinal evidence from a population-based study of US adults. Psychological medicine, 53 (4). pp. 1603-1610.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s003329172100324x

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has produced a considerable public health burden but the impact that contracting the disease has on mental health is unclear. In this observational population-based cohort study, we examined longitudinal changes in psychological distress associated with testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).<h4>Methods</h4>Participants (<i>N</i> = 8002; observations = 139 035) were drawn from 23 waves of the Understanding America Study, a nationally representative probability-based online panel of American adults followed-up every 2 weeks from 1 April 2020 to 15 February 2021. Psychological distress was assessed using the standardized total score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-4.<h4>Results</h4>Over the course of the study, 576 participants reported testing positive for COVID-19. Using regression analysis including individual and time-fixed effects we found that psychological distress increased by 0.29 standard deviations (<i>p</i> < 0.001) during the 2-week period when participants first tested positive for COVID-19. Distress levels remained significantly elevated (<i>d</i> = 0.16, <i>p</i> < 0.01) for a further 2 weeks, before returning to baseline levels. Coronavirus symptom severity explained changes in distress attributable to COVID-19, whereby distress was more pronounced among those whose symptoms were more severe and were slower to subside.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study indicates that testing positive for COVID-19 is associated with an initial increase in psychological distress that diminishes quickly as symptoms subside. Although COVID-19 may not produce lasting psychological distress among the majority of the general population it remains possible that a minority may suffer longer-term mental health consequences.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Cohort Studies, Anxiety, Adult, United States, Psychological Distress, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	05 May 2023 07:24
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 07:25
DOI:	10.1017/s003329172100324x
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3170187